Double Trouble

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 (NLT)

There was a concept I was taught early on in Sabbath School. It sounded great, and is often repeated among the ranks of Christians around the globe. The thought went something like this: When you become a Christian, you will no longer have anything go wrong in life. If that statement is true, who wouldn’t want to be a Christian, right?! In fact, this particular verse that we are looking at today was used as proof for just such a teaching. Here’s the problem, that’s not what this verse (or the rest of the Bible) says.

Notice, God rescues his people from all their troubles. Now, notice what the verse doesn’t say. It doesn’t say He will prevent you from getting into trouble in the first place! In other words, what this verse is really talking about is that God will see us through our troubles.

We live in a sinful world, surrounded by sinful people (including us). Therefore, wherever sin is present, there also will be trouble. Because of this reality, we actually face double trouble. Trouble from people, and trouble from Satan (the source of sin).

Jesus actually says that if we are a Christian, we will be persecuted. (See Matthew 5:10-12) We see evidence of this in the lives of everyone that served Him while He was here on Earth. All of the disciples, except John, were put to death because of their faith in, and teachings about, Jesus. People not only rejected their message, but were violently opposed to it. God did not rescue them from trouble. He carried them through it.

Additionally, persecution takes different forms. While we may not be targeted for physical or verbal abuse because of our faith, sometimes the enemy targets our family lives, our finances, our jobs, our friends, or anything else he can use to get at us. Satan loves to hurl trouble our direction. Often times we don’t even see it coming until the trap has been sprung. Enter our Savior once again!

When Satan and his minions have us in their crosshairs, and are trying to take us down, our redeemer is always at the ready to come and help us. When we call upon His name, He lovingly rescues us from the troubles that Satan causes in our lives.