“He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15).
Did you catch that?
When we find ourselves in trouble and we call on God, God promises to answer. So far so good.
This is where we would all expect God to say, “And I will deliver him from trouble.” That’s what I would want.
- I’m in trouble. Get me out!!!
- This hurts. Get me out!!!
- Rescue me from this danger. Get me out!!!
Whatever trouble I might be facing, if God promises to answer me, I want him to get me out.
But that’s not what God promises. God promises to answer our prayers and be with us in trouble.
Say what?!?!
God doesn’t promise to deliver us out of trouble, but promises to be with us in trouble.
What is that about?
Jesus told his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
In this world – where we are living in the in-between period of God’s kingdom at hand and not yet fulfilled – we will face tribulation. That is life. In this world where God continues to give sinners and saints free will, we will face tribulation.
But Christ has overcome this world.
Christ wins. The ending of the story of God’s creation is clear. It has already been written. Christ wins. God receives glory and honor. In the meantime, there will be trouble. But just as sure as there will be trouble, we can rest assured in that Christ has overcome this world. Because of that truth, Christ is present with us in good times and the bad.
- There is nothing in the good times that can add to God’s glory.
- And there is nothing in the hard times that can take away from God’s glory.
- Good times and bad, it all leads to God’s glory.
That’s good news.
God is present with us in good times and bad. And his presence is all we need.
Praxis: Faith in Action 