How Followers of Christ Are to Respond to Trouble
The struggles, troubles, and sufferings we face leave us wondering, “Why is this difficult thing happening to me?” In His omniscience, God, who is intimately aware of all our unspoken questions provides us guidance for why trouble comes upon us and how we need to respond. Through the life of David, we learn the origin of trouble may be God’s careful training, the sins of others, or our own sinfulness. For each source of struggle, David’s choices unveil how we can not only survive the storms but grow stronger and closer to our Lord through them.
A Lesson to Learn
One reason trouble may fall upon us is God knows we need a life detour to train and prepare for future encounters and temptations that inevitably will come from a world marred by evil. Being the youngest of eight brothers, David was responsible for protecting his father’s sheep. Managing the stubborn, timid, creatures bent on aimless wandering often forced David to confront predators larger and stronger than himself to retrieve a lamb. Though David faithfully fulfilled his duty, it is reasonable to assume each fight began with the opposition of fear and doubt. David had no clue such experiences God would use to prepare him for a greater and more critical battle.
A day came when the Israelite army came up against the Philistines and their warrior giant, Goliath. Standing over nine feet, Goliath taunted Israel and challenged anyone to fight him. So menacing was Goliath, Scripture describes the Israelite soldiers and the king as too fearful to fight him. Among the ranks were David’s brothers. Unaware of these circumstances and anxious for news about the welfare of his older sons, David’s father, Jesse, sent David to the battle scene with food for his brothers hoping for encouraging news. Expecting the noise of battle, David was surprised to arrive and hear only Goliath’s bellowing insults.
Surrounded by men frozen in fear, David questioned,” “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam 17:26).”
When the words of David reached Saul, the Israelite king, Saul sent for David thinking finally a warrior to defeat Goliath had come forward. However, seeing David’s youth, Saul immediately rejected David insisting David was incapable of fighting Goliath. Yet, David responded:
Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God….The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Sam 17:36-37a).
God had prepared David for that moment. God used the trouble David faced as a shepherd to develop within David the courage and faith to walk onto that field of battle alone. However, we must not overlook the choices David himself had to make.
First, when difficult obstacles came upon David, he chose to learn from God. As circumstances and events bring trouble into our life, we must first step back from the struggle and seek to decern what God may be trying to teach us. Could God be orchestrating the opportunity to grow our knowledge and love for Him or to develop our patience, compassion, or some other aspect of holiness?
Secondly, the blows of hardship require that we remain steadfast in our love for God rather than become angry and blame Him. Regardless of the message our emotions may be screaming, God loves us. Trouble comes to everyone because we live in a fallen world filled with sinful people. David did not become angry with God because the bears and the lions attacked. Instead, David’s love for God seem to strengthen. Hear David’s love and honor of God in his words to Goliath:
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand (1 Sam 17:46-47).
David stood to fight Goliath not for himself but for the glory and honor of his God.
Lastly, it is imperative that we trust God and not limit the work of God in our heart and life by doubting Him and failing to remain obedient to His word. God is all powerful, and He can use even trouble for our good. When King Saul scoffed that David had no chance against Goliath, David focused on God and boldly claimed that the Lord God, who had delivered him before would deliver him again. Indeed, David faced and defeated Goliath that day bringing victory for the Israelites.
We can be certain that this fallen world will usher trouble into our life. However, our struggle may be God’s work out plan for us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jam. 1:2-4).
Let us determine to respond by seeking God’s lesson for us, by loving God not blaming Him, and by trusting God with the outcome. Doing so will produce the wisdom, strength, and faith God knows we will need for the future.
The ESV Study Bible:English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2008.