When Trouble Comes Your Way
II Cor. 1:8-9 and 4:8-10
Introduction
People react to trouble in different ways:
Some Grumble – Some Gripe – Some Groan – Some Grieve – Some Growl - and SOME GROW.
Trouble will never leave a person the same. It will either leave you “bitter” or “better”.
A poet wrote:
“Christ is no security against storms,
But He is perfect security in the storm.
He does not promise an easy passage,
But he does guarantee a safe landing.”
Let me point out some of the benefits of trouble:
I. Trouble Unifies – Trouble can be a blessing.
1. It draws people together.
Remember when Hurricane Hugo hit. –Neighbors who had never even talked with each other became
friends. They shared food and ate together. They loaned each other tools. They helped each other cut
down trees and repair their roofs. When there was no electricity for several weeks and traffic lights
didn’t work, people were courteous and polite when they drove. The whole community rallied together
to survive.
2. It draws people to the Lord.
a. Trouble not only draws people together. – It draws people to the Lord.
The Psalmist writes: “Before I was afflicted I went astray” Ps. 119:67
b. God is often the last resort instead of the first resort when problems arise in peoples lives. Trouble
forces us to look beyond our own resources and seek God.
3. It draws people to the church.
a. It draws believers to the church. Trouble causes believers to seek the help and comfort of the church
and other Christians.
b. It draws non-believers to the church.
Churches are constantly getting calls from people when they are in need.
1.) Financial problems – need money for food, utilities, ect.
2.) Marital problems – divorce, spouse abuse.
3.) Family problems – children, drug abuse, alcohol
4.) Health problems
II. Trouble is Universal – Sooner or later it comes to everyone.
Matt 5:45 “…for he (God) maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
1. Trouble comes to the Christian and to the non Christian alike. It comes to the young and the old. It doesn’t discriminate because of age or race or sex.
2. Trouble comes to the Lost man to draw him to God. – Salvation
3. Trouble comes to the Christian to draw him to God.
1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation (test or trial) taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
III. Trouble Gets Our Attention
Rom 5:3-4
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
1. Here we find the effect of trouble. It was a blessing in disguise.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
2. Trouble is often God’s “chastening”.
Heb 12:6-7
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not?
When trouble comes into our life our first prayer is usually; “God, help me. Get me out of this. Deliver
me from this quickly. Now!
Illustration
When I was a boy, I sometimes did things like shoot out the window with my BB gun. On such
occasions my father take away my BB gun and take me to the “woodshed”. I would plead for mercy.
I would never do it again. I would be the best boy in the world. I would do my chores and treat my
sisters right. Anything, but please not the “belt”. But the belt came.
But you know what I discovered? The closer I stood to my daddy, the less it would hurt. The closer we
draw to God, the less it will hurt.
IV. Trouble Produces Spiritual Maturity
Ps 71:19-21
19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
1. The world is filled with veneer, sham, and hypocrisy.
After a serious bout with trouble, we don’t usually care much for the things of the world. Pride is
plowed under. The appetite for sin goes away.
2. Have you ever thought why God doesn’t make the life of the believer “easier”.
a. God could have kept Daniel out of the lion’s den – but He didn’t.
b. God could have kept Paul from being shipwrecked – but he didn’t.
c. God could have kept Joseph from being falsely accused and thrown into prison – but He didn’t.
Instead He delivered them through it.
Illustration
You can take two acorns off of the same oak tree – Plant one in South Carolina and the other in
Pennsylvania. Both will grow into oak trees. In thirty years cut them down for lumber. The one in
South Carolina grew faster under a milder climate. The one in Pennsylvania grew slower because of the
short summers and harsh winters. Which one do you think will make the strongest lumber. The harsh
winters made the Pennsylvania tree stronger and it’s lumber more usable.
Isa 48:10
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
V. Trouble Glorifies God
1. It can glorify God by furthering the gospel.
Paul wrote regarding his afflictions - “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things
which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” Phil 1:12
2. Three times in Eph. 1 we are told that our lives are to be lived “to the praise of His glory”.
Conclusion
What to do when trouble comes – Acts 27:14-21
1. Spend time alone with God – Vs. 21
2. Reckon upon God’s presence – Vs. 23
3. Believe God’s promises – Vs. 25
4. Count your blessings – Vs. 35
5. Get rid of excess baggage – Vs. 38
Our prayer should be:
Ps 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Note Much of this sermon was gleaned from other sources. One of which was Charles Stanley.
