Torch, Fall 1982

Times of Trouble. By Pat Landers Dixon The casket loomed large before my eyes. I didn't want to look at it, yet the death box drew my gaze to focus there. Why his death, Lord? Anyone but my husband. And such a terrible way.for him to die' Slowly his muscular frame was eaten away by that dreaded, silent disease. Did I say silent? Oh, his groans and cries, "Let me die; pray, Annie, pray/' l! die soon," still resound in my ears. Let this time of sorrow go quickly. Let it dim from my memory. Allow the sounds of heart machines and respirators, and the odors of hospital corridors and yellow gladiolus be forgotten. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9). *** The bill is $500. We can'tafford that-not now. Pam has just gotten her braces. The living-room furniture was paid off only last month . Dale's tuition is due in 30 days, too! Could it be a mistake? Count those costs again, please. There's no way out this time. This!.§. a necessity. But where will we get the money? Haven't we been taxed enough lately with these hard, financially troubled times? Now don't tell this housewife that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. My family has been in the valley of just keeping our heads above the waters ofinflation; we can't see those hills. Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble (Psalm 41:1). *** You're moving out! I won't standfor it; you're only nineteen. I know your father and I have been strict, but it was for your own good. How can you mean that? I can't believe that you never cared for our church and the pastor. Now, listen a moment and rethink what you've just said: "/ intend never to darken the door of the church again; /' m not into your religion any more." My son, we've nurtured you in the way of God's teaching, prayed for you, and dedicated you to Him. That conversation ofjust two weeks past is etched in my mind. Who would have thought that the little boy who would always hurry from his Sunday School class to show me his story sheet would now be in a hurry to close out his teen years outside those church boundaries? This time offamily trouble, I thought, would never come to Joe and me. Why has our faithfulness in going to church and taking our children resulted in one ofour ownforsaking those habits? For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion ... (Psalm 27:5). *** 11 I can't bear these feelings/ This heaviness, this despair - they' re about to crush me . Help! Someone help me rid myselfofthis terrible weight ofdepression. Where is my faith? It's not operating for me. The situation is hopeless . Nothing is working outfor me. My emotions are so untrustworthy; my judgements - so jaded. I twist and turn everyone's words to feed this depression and sorrowful spirit . Rise above it. 1 How can/? This time of trouble is the most extreme/' ve ever gone through . There's no clarity to my reasoning. Where's my faith? How can He help me now? But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. He is their strength in the time of trouble (Psalm 37:39). * * * It doesn't matter how well you manage your time - trouble will find you. Peter speaks of "manifold trials": those trials are many colored, coming to Christians in various ways, situations, and degrees of difficulties. How you respond and react to those times of trials and trouble shows your true Christian character. The following "don'ts and do's" may help you to withstand times of trouble: 1. Don't be surprised by times of trouble; do plan ahead for them. (I Peter 1:6, 7) 2. Don't be unhappy in them; do rejoice and "count it all joy." (James 1:2) 3. Don't let the situation or your feelings control you; do talk to yourself. The Psalmist did. (Psalm 42:5) 4. Don't panic; do exercise faith. (Hebrews 11 :6) 5. Don't forget who you are; do remind yourself of what you believe and know. (Romans 5: 10) 6. Don't feel the trial is worthless; do believe it will yield the "peaceable fruit of righteous– ness .... " (Hebrews 12: 11) "Whatever your circumstances at this moment, bring all you know to be true of your relationship to God to bear upon it." (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones) Applying these principles in times of trouble, you should exhibit to people who are observing you a pattern of Biblical character. Her lamp goes not out; but it burns on continually through the night of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and · distrust (Proverbs 31:18, Amplified Bible).