God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble. 

Psalm 46:1

As we walk through life, do we expect to encounter difficulties, or do we expect a life filled with trouble-free pleasure? Psalm 46 reminds us to expect times of trouble and to know that God is our refuge and strength.

Jesus corroborates the message.  He begins the Sermon on the Mount explaining that God blesses us through troubling situations.  He states the Beatitudes saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness… Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:1-11).  God comforts, fills, adopts as children, and gives His holy kingdom to those who suffer and who, through suffering, gain humility, purity of heart and mercy, who desire peace and unity, and who seek God’s righteousness.  It is a beautiful statement of God’s blessing and His holy assurance that He is with us through times of trouble.

After the amazing sermon filling chapters 5-7 of the Book of Matthew, Jesus concludes by returning to trouble, hardship and the difficulties of life.  He suggests that everyone will experience hardship, saying,

“Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall!”  Matthew 7:24-27

This is Jesus’ conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount.  Everyone experiences rain, floods and winds.  Everyone experiences calamity, pain and suffering.  Some collapse under the weight of it all while others withstand the storms.  The differences between the two groups begin at their foundation. Some hear Jesus’ words and act on them.  The foundation of their lives is faith in God through Christ Jesus, they base their lives on relationship with God, and their response to the difficulties of life is influenced by their implementation of Jesus’ words, their view of God, their understanding of their place in the world, their expectations, and their understanding of the eternal significance of our brief time here on earth and our actions and choices.

As we walk through life, do we expect hardship, or do we expect a life filled with trouble-free pleasure?  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus suggests we should expect times of hardship, and He promises that God will bless us through times of trouble. 

Later in His ministry Jesus explains that He will suffer, religious leaders will kill him, and He will rise again on the third day, and after saying that He says,

“If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”  Luke 9:23-24

The cross involves pain and suffering, radical transformation, and costly change, and following Jesus requires this.  Through this radical transformation, through this killing of our old life, we receive His new life, and we are able to build our foundation of faith to grow through every storm.

On the evening of the Last Supper, John records the following exchange between Jesus and the disciples:

His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.  I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”  John 16:29-33

Speaking to the disciples, Jesus promises they will face persecution.  Their relationship with Jesus will not protect them from suffering.  In fact, they will suffer unique pain because of their relationship with Jesus.  With this information in mind, Jesus urges them to have courage.  Similarly, we should face the suffering we will face with courage and strength, filled with the power He gives us, knowing with certainty that God – God the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit – is in control.  Christ Jesus has conquered the world!

In many different places and in many ways, God’s holy word presents trouble, difficulty, pain and suffering as things we should expect as we travel through life.  God also promises to be with us, helping us during our difficult seasons.  Let’s consider a few.

Jesus says,

 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:25-29

The psalmist writes,

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3

And

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunter
    and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and defense.
You will not fear the terror of the night
    or the arrow that flies by day
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness
    or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

…

Those who love me, I will deliver;
    I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
    I will be with them in trouble;
    I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them
    and show them my salvation.  Psalm 91:1-6 and 14-16

The fallen world we live in is a dangerous place.  We will experience trouble, hardship, pain and suffering, and God promises to be with us during times of trouble.  So, what are we to do with this?

We recognize suffering for what it is.  It is a tool for our growth.  Through the darkness we see God with new eyes. Through the darkness we experience God in new ways.  Through the darkness we rely on God rather than ourselves.  Through the darkness we discover new humility.  Through the darkness God reveals things in our lives we need to let go of.  Through the darkness we see how unimportant so many worldly things are.  Through the darkness we draw closer to God.  Through the darkness God’s glory is revealed.  Through the darkness we see God is really who He claims to be, and we grow increasingly worshipful and faithful and prepared to serve in ways we otherwise could not.

And we know that God is with us always.  If you are suffering, we need to gather as a church in prayer for you, because through the prayers of many God’s glory is revealed.  If you are not suffering, think about how you have been transformed through it in the past, pray asking God to reveal to you the special ways He has prepared you to serve and get involved, allowing God to employ you in His holy service.  Your suffering is for a purpose.  God is with you, His Holy Spirit surrounds you and dwells within you, Christ Jesus is with you, giving you His peace, comfort and rest, and your church, this little sliver of the Body of Christ is here to help you, and to pray with you.

May you know God’s comfort, peace and rest, may Christ Jesus continue to transform you into His holy image, may you allow God to use you in your weakness.  Amen.