Trouble comes!

⁵For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. Ps. 27.5

Trouble comes. In every shape, size and level of intensity. Trouble is one of the sub-categories under CHANGE that remains constant. Trouble will sometimes knock hard and loud on the door of our lives. At other times, it slips and creeps in under window sills and cracks in the door. No matter how it comes, it comes.

I'm convinced that that our trouble with trouble is not when it comes but the season in which it arrives and the state of preparedness we are in. It may also come during a time when our mindset is not where it should be in order to handle it. That's the 'trouble' in trouble.  Don't believe me? Well, let's look at the story of the five wise and five foolish virgins and the two thieves on the cross to get a glimpse at this concept at work.

Something or someone was coming. Who was it? Yes, the bridegroom. But with him came an unexpected guest. Trouble. You know the story. Five of them were wise and brought extra oil in which to trim their lamps (or torches). The five foolish brought no oil with them and unbeknownst to them the were going to meet trouble that day. They were unprepared, that's obvious! But look deeper. These virgins in this day and time knew that some times it would take a while for the bridegroom to come for he often came at night. Yet, they chose not to be prepared. Instead, they had fallen back in contentment with the mindset that they could work around the issues of life. How do we know? Well, when the bridegroom came, they began to ask those around them to fill in the gaps for them. "Give us of your oil," they cried out. But they were continuously denied. They had grown accustomed to depending on others for their well-being. They lived their lives just getting by. They looked ready...but they weren't! The bible calls them foolish. The bridegroom came. Trouble came. The season had come. Because they were not prepared and because they had the wrong mindset, they missed out on the season! Trouble came.

What about the two thieves on the cross? They both had done wrong in the eyes of the law and were being put to death because of it. Trouble. Two thieves on the cross. Both thieves were accused and found guilty. But one--oh yes, one was probably not prepared but his mind was in the right place to deal with it. One thief cried out for Christ to come down and save all of them as he sneered and snarled. The other thief, found himself in a season full of trouble, unprepared because of the lifestyle he lived--yet, his mind was prepared to respond. He humbled himself, acknowledged his current state and cried out to the son of God! And his prayer was answered. For Christ said, "THIS DAY will you be with me in paradise."

Let me drop a pin right here and point out something that you might have missed. This other thief was unprepared but his mindset was in the right place. But, he still had to go through what was taking place at that time. However...look at this...he was prepared to walk into his next season! Ha! Okay, please don't miss your shout que. That's another post for another day!

Trouble. It came. It comes. It is coming. It's a constant revolving door that we must all be prepared for and in the right state of mind when it comes. We have to be careful to not react to trouble. A prepared person simply responds to trouble and moves on.

Key Verse: James 1.2-4  (CEV) My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.

Prayer: My father in heaven. Thank you for trouble. For in trouble I am made patient and steadfast. Thank you for the thorough work that you are doing in me so that I will be made perfect and lacking nothing! This is according to your word and your will for my life. Forgive me for the times that I have and will stumble in this area. Thank you for mercy! In Jesus Name-Amen.

Hidden under the Shadow!