In this life troubles are inevitable. Sooner or later we will confront a situation which is greater than we are, or beyond our control. It might take the form of a natural disaster. An earthquake levels our house, a fire destroys our city or a drought produces famine.
Trouble might also take the form of illness. An epidemic sweeps through our family or community. A cancer grows in our body, or our eyesight fails.
We might have to face economic trouble. We lose our employment. A business fails. Inflation erodes our income and purchasing power.
Another type of trouble is that caused by other people. Someone breaks their promise to us. A thief robs our house. Another country wages war upon us.
No matter the kind or cause of trouble, we all imagine that we have the ability to minimize the impact of it, if we cannot avoid it altogether. For example, many people buy insurance which will compensate them if their house is destroyed. Others provide against economic hard times by buying gold, investing in stocks or opening savings accounts. Still others rely on their own wits, their looks or their strength to overcome whatever situation may come upon them. Rulers may rely on their armed forces to protect them against foreign threats.
Yet all of these attempts to avoid, or at least minimize the effects of trouble, may not succeed. Psalm 33:16-17 says, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.” (NIV)
We know this is true. We know that no person and no nation can control the forces of nature. We know that we have little control over the state of the economy. In spite of all the tremendous advances of medical science, we know that we cannot prevent an illness from striking us down. And, no matter what we do and whatever precautions we take, we all will one day die.
If all of the precautions we take cannot spare us from calamity, then in what can we place our hope? We need Someone in which to place our hope who is greater than our troubles – Someone who is beyond or outside of this nature altogether. Psalm 33 goes on to say, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” (Psalm 33:18-19 NIV)
God is greater than every situation which might afflict us. He can protect us even beyond the grave. He has even promised eternal life to those who choose to follow Christ. Where is your hope?