Monday, May 12, 2014

What To Do With Trouble

A young businessman, deeply troubled, went to his pastor. After a deep sigh he said, “I have some huge problems. I don’t know what to do, and I need your help. Will you pray with me?”

What a great way to look at problems: through the eyes of prayer. That was what David did. “I pour out my complaints before Him; before Him I tell my trouble.”

Whatever may have been troubling David was not as important as going to God in prayer. He did not go to his friends and complain. He did not go to the leaders of his army and gripe. Nor was he paralyzed in confusion or fear. He did what every godly person does: go to God and pray. And it was not an insincere prayer or a prayer that was meaningless. David “poured out” his complaints and troubles. He left his troubles, so to speak, “on the floor.” He kept nothing inside of himself. He put it where God could see what was troubling him.

Far too often we go to others and complain about our troubles knowing that they can do no more than listen or offer us sympathy. Sometimes we sit and sulk and feel sorry for ourselves. Other times we climb into bed and try to hide from them by falling asleep - only to awaken and see them before us on the ceiling.

David did the most sensible thing that any of us can do: Go to God and “pour out” our “troubles” and look to Him for His wisdom, guidance and solutions. He knows the answer before we even identify the problem. So, it makes good sense to go to Him first!

Prayer:  It is so strange, Lord, that we often look to others for help rather than You. May we look to You first. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 142:2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.

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