Question 1

What causes trouble in my life?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:17-19To the man he [God] said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”Job 5:7“People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.”Job 14:1“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!”Ecclesiastes 2:22-23So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.Trouble is the inevitable byproduct of sin entering the world, so we should not be surprised by it. But along with our trouble comes the strength and wisdom that God provides for us to handle it.Leviticus 26:14-20“However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you—wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you! And if, in spite of all this, you still disobey me, I will punish you seven times over for your sins. I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze. All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.”Nehemiah 9:27“So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.”Psalm 38:4-6My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief.Proverbs 12:13The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.Proverbs 13:21Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.Isaiah 66:4“I will send them great trouble—all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.”Jeremiah 4:18“Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”Jeremiah 21:14“‘And I myself will punish you for your sinfulness, says the Lord. I will light a fire in your forests that will burn up everything around you.’”Jeremiah 25:7“But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer.”Romans 2:9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.Trouble can be self-inflicted, the natural consequence of our own poor decisions or sin.Jonah 1:1-3The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.We can expect to find ourselves in deep trouble if we insist on running away from God.Joshua 7:25Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.”Job 15:35“They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit.”Psalm 7:14The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies.Psalm 106:32At Meribah, too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble.Proverbs 6:14Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.Proverbs 10:10People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.Proverbs 11:29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.Proverbs 22:8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.Jonah 1:1-5The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord . . . . But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.1 Timothy 6:5These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.We can also experience unnecessary trouble when other people’s sins affect our lives.Matthew 24:9“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.”John 15:18-19“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”1 Thessalonians 3:1-3Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.1 Peter 4:15-16If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!The trouble we experience may be related to our commitment to God. Both Satan and the world will try to stop us from accomplishing anything for God.

Question 2

How can I avoid bringing trouble on myself?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 13:13People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.Seeking wise advice can help us avoid trouble.Proverbs 11:8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.Proverbs 12:21No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.Proverbs 15:6There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.Proverbs 15:27Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.Proverbs 28:14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.Proverbs 28:20The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.Godly values help us make wise choices that help us avoid many troubles. The fear of the Lord—enthusiastically following God’s instructions—is a great place to start!Proverbs 12:13The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.Proverbs 18:6-7Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.Proverbs 24:2Their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.Controlling our words can help us avoid trouble.

Question 3

Is God listening when I cry out because of my troubles?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 9:12He who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.Jonah 2:2He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!”God’s hotline is always open. There is never a busy signal, for he is never too busy with anything, even managing the world, to fail to listen. And God not only has a listening ear but also a caring heart.

Question 4

What good can come from times of trouble?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 107:43Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.Romans 8:28We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.God is always working in our lives. Although we may not see his plan or even his activity in the midst of our troubles, we can trust him to work on our behalf. We can look back through our life’s history and remember how God has faithfully shown his love, especially in times of trouble.Jonah 1:14-16Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.Acts 8:3-4Saul [the apostle Paul] was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.Philippians 1:12-14I [the apostle Paul] want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.God can use our difficult circumstances for his Kingdom’s growth and for the good of others.Proverbs 24:10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.Romans 5:3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.James 1:2-4, 12When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. . . . God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.1 Peter 1:6-7So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.Times of trouble, which often test our faith, can increase our endurance, prove our faith, and strengthen our character, preparing us to adapt to whatever the future holds. We can use times of trouble to grow rather than give in to defeat.2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 6All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. . . . Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.Times of trouble can prepare us to minister comfort to others in their times of trouble.Deuteronomy 8:2-3“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”2 Chronicles 20:12“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”2 Corinthians 1:8-10We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.2 Corinthians 6:3-7We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us.Troubles can help us learn to rely on God, because they teach us that we cannot always rely on ourselves to solve them. With God’s help we can resolve to live by his priorities, persevering through challenging difficulties.

Question 5

How should I respond when trouble comes?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 9:32“And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.”Psalm 4:1Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.Psalm 18:4-6The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.Psalm 55:1-2Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.Psalm 57:1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.Psalm 120:1I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.Psalm 138:7Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.Psalm 142:2I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.Isaiah 37:14-20After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”Jeremiah 16:19Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!Jonah 2:1-7Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.”John 14:27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”Romans 12:12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.2 Corinthians 1:3-4All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.We should go immediately to God—with honesty and faith. He promises to listen to us and act on our behalf—not always to take our troubles away, but to help us grow from them and give us peace, and even joy.Psalm 119:143As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.Matthew 13:21“But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.”We should strengthen our roots by reading and thinking about God’s Word. It is a source of comfort, joy, guidance, and nourishment.Matthew 6:34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”We should not give in to worry. Borrowing trouble from tomorrow through worry can deplete us physically, spiritually, and emotionally.Psalm 25:16-18Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.When trouble strikes, we should search our hearts to see if the problem might be a result of our own wrongdoing. If it is, we should ask God’s help us deal with it. God sometimes uses our troubles to draw us back to him.Job 1:20-22Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.Job 2:10Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.Ezekiel 18:25, 29“Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you? . . . And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.”We should not blame God for our troubles; rather, we should accept them as an opportunity for growth.Genesis 3:12-13The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”Genesis 16:5Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”We should not blame others, especially for problems that we had a part in or that we complicated further by our actions.Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.Galatians 6:2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.We should seek strength and support from other Christians. Sharing our burdens with each other lightens the load.Psalm 119:157Many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws.Ecclesiastes 8:5-6Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.Jeremiah 42:13-17“But if you refuse to obey the Lord your God, and if you say, ‘We will not stay here; instead, we will go to Egypt where we will be free from war, the call to arms, and hunger,’ then hear the Lord’s message to the remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and live there, the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there. That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from war, famine, and disease. None of you will escape the disaster I will bring upon you there.’”Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”Acts 4:16-20“What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”Acts 20:18-27When they arrived he [the apostle Paul] declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”2 Corinthians 1:8-10We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.We should remain committed to doing what is right and stand firm in obedience. Being obedient to God is one thing we can control when enduring troubled times. Sometimes we might think running away from trouble will make it go away, but some kinds of trouble will follow us wherever we go. The best course of action is usually to stay and work through it with God’s help and guidance. Peter and John stood firm and trusted God to save them, following the example of the Old Testament saints before them. Paul did not fear trouble, but he feared disobeying God’s call. They all knew that a weak-hearted, faithless response to trouble only leads to more trouble.2 Corinthians 4:7-8, 14-17We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. . . . We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!Revelation 2:9-11“I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! . . . Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”We should take an eternal perspective and endure.

Question 6

How can I have peace in times of trouble?

Accepted Answer

John 14:1, 27“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. . . . I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”The peace of Christ is experienced not only in the absence of trouble, but in the very midst of trouble.Psalm 14:4-5Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord. Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.Isaiah 41:13“For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’”Isaiah 43:2“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”Mark 6:45-52Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.2 Corinthians 1:3-5All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.Hebrews 13:5-6God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”We should remember that God is right there with us in the storms of life, and at the same time, sovereign over everything. He is not surprised or overwhelmed by anything. As a result, we do not have to endure the troubled waters of life alone, and the storms need not steal our peace. Our confidence in the face of difficult situations and human opposition is based on God’s presence with us.Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.Peace, assurance, and rest come not from our efforts and activity, but in stillness before God.Psalm 119:49-50, 52, 54, 92-93Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. . . . I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me. . . . Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived. . . . If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.We can find peace amid trouble by turning our minds toward God’s promises and commands.2 Corinthians 7:5-6When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.1 Thessalonians 3:7-8So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.God often sends us peace and encouragement through other followers of Jesus.Psalm 3:3You, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.Psalm 9:9, 12The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. . . . For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.Psalm 27:5He [the Lord] will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.Psalm 31:7, 9I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. . . . Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away.Psalm 31:20You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.Psalm 32:7You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.Psalm 34:17, 19The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. . . . The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.Psalm 37:39The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.Psalm 91:15When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.Psalm 94:22The Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.Psalm 116:3-9Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!Psalm 138:7Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.We can find peace as we read and pray through the book of Psalms. God hears our prayers and cares for us. In every trial, he is our hope. Although we do not know the details of everything he has planned for us, we join believers past and present in declaring our dependence on him and looking to him for deliverance.

Question 7

Will God rescue us from all our troubles in this life?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 18:6-19In my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger. Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet. Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds. Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused. Then at your command, O Lord, at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare. He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.Acts 7:55-60But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” . . . They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. . . . As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.Philippians 1:20-21I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.We can find encouragement in other believers’ stories of God’s deliverance in their lives, but we do not know all the details of God’s plan for us. Whether God’s will is that we endure our troubles longer—even to death—or whether he chooses to rescue us quickly, we can be sure that he is present and his awesome power is at work in our lives to hold forth the light of the gospel.