Theology of Trouble

Something I've been churning in my head lately is this: when times are good, it's easy to think that things will always be good. We get comfortable. We start feeling entitled to the good times. We feel secure in the easiness and we grow accustomed to it.

But the good times get replaced with troubled times. When this happens, what is our reaction? Do we kick and scream and shake our fist at God? Do we wonder what we did wrong to deserve the trouble? Do we see the hard times as a chance to die to ourselves and become more like Jesus?

What is your theology of trouble? Have you prepared ahead of time what your reaction will be when you begin to experience it? Psalm 27:5 says: "For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon the rock." David had already prepared his response to when trouble comes - he will turn to God in trust, in hope, in belief that God will take of him.

As Christians, our theology needs to be proactive, prepared ahead of time, not reactionary. We must think ahead of time what our reaction to trouble will be, what God will expect from us, and what God has promised us. Then when the trouble comes, we need to hold onto our theology, which has been prepared head of time. Good theology will take us through the trouble - it will enable us to trust God and it will bring about joy and praise in the midst of the hard times.