There are many ways to hide from the realities
of life, and everyone seeks shelter from the storms of life that are overwhelming.
Job faced a series of catastrophes in rapid succession that compelled him to declare,
“How frail is man, how few his days, how full of trouble!" You may sense approaching
trouble and, like Job, feel frightened, perhaps helpless.
It's not unusual to disregard warning
signs about approaching trouble. Hiding from trouble is an ineffective attempt to
avoid conflict. While it’s possible to avoid and deny conflict, these defenses can
prove to be disastrous. Realizing conflict needs to be addressed appropriately is
essential to good, healthy relationships.
Trouble visits the righteous and the
unrighteous. Job loved God and lived an upright life before him. Still he had
to grieve through the death of all his children. We, like Job, can claim God's
promise to be our "refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." When we do so, we gain courage to face whatever life presents to us.
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God is our mighty fortress, always
ready to help in times of trouble.
And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the
earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam, and its
raging waves shake the mountains.
Our God says, “Calm down, and learn
that I am God!”
~Psalm 46:1-3,10 Contemporary English Version
