When Trouble Knocks at Your Door

Life is not problem-free. Troubles come in different sizes and degree.  No one is exempted from troubles or sufferings in whatever walks of life one belongs.

Author Harold J. Sala in his book, “Today Can Be the Best Day of Your Life,” shares this story: “Stanley Collins, a gifted Bible teacher and conference speaker was felled by heart attack. As he lay in the hospital thinking of the conferences that he would have to cancel, he began feeling sorry for himself. The question started to rise from his soul, ‘Why me, God? Look at all these wonderful things that I am doing for you.’ Then, said Stanley, ‘It was almost as if I heard the echo of my own voice asking, ‘Why not you?’ ”

Some of us may question God on why a certain tragedy or illness or financial problem happens to us. A nun whom I had the chance to talk with had this to say: “Any trouble that comes into our life makes us bitter or better. But I believe that when we are at the threshold of our pain and suffering, we bring ourselves closer to the Lord. It’s in His mercy and grace that He gives comfort in our soul. In fact, when we pray, it can change our perspective in looking at the problem. The problem may not be changed but our perspective changes.”

Harold Sala shares the following guidelines to help us when trouble knocks at our door:

• Realize that trouble is universal. Everybody faces trouble and adversity. No one – no matter how righteous or evil he or she is – is exempted. Your attitude, though, has everything to do with how trouble affects you. Do you ever ponder that God has blessed you with far more than you deserve?

• Realize that in life nothing is forever. Both blessing and adversity are not forever.

• When trouble knocks at your door, hold on to what you know is true, and refuse to believe what your emotions are telling you. Since trouble is an emotional issue, your equilibrium is affected. You tend to believe what you know in your heart is not true. You think that God is punishing you, or that you are never going to feel good again, or that you are suffering because of your inability to perform as well as others. Refuse to believe what you know is not true.

• Focus on getting through the difficulties, one at a time. Do not worry about everything all at once. Prioritize your troubles and focus only on getting through them one at a time.

• Let your adversity drive you to God. Trouble makes us realize our humanity, our failure or insufficiency to handle situations. It makes us realize that we need the Lord’s help, His strength, His wisdom and guidance.

• There are things in life which have to be taken by faith. If we believe God is a loving Father, we must hold on to the promises of the Scripture which tells us God is in control of our lives, that Christ will not leave us or forsake us as we go through the valley.