Day 72: When You Find Yourself in Trouble

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 55:1-23 

Central Thought: Instead of running from trouble, pray about it

‘Out of the frying pan, into the fire,” goes an old saying. A friend of mine personally experienced the truth of that old phrase. He had been serving on the staff of a large church. As time passed, he found himself in disagreement with the church’s leadership over minor issues. His frustrations mounted until he felt like escape was the only answer.

When a much larger ministry contacted him and asked him to serve in the same position on their staff, he leaped at the opportunity. Seeing this as his way out of trouble, he accepted their offer and moved to the new ministry.

Several months passed. Suddenly the leader of this ministry became involved in a moral failure. What my friend went through during that ordeal surpassed by far the frustrations that had driven him from the church he had previously served.

Escape isn’t always the answer for difficulties. In Psalm 55, David expressed the desire to escape his many troubles. He spoke of his troubled heart (verse 4), and the fear that welled up inside of him (verse 5). Then he expressed it: ‘And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest’” (verses 6-8).

But David did not find those wings, and he did not fly away. Instead, as the rest of the Psalm reveals, he called out to God in prayer, confident that the Lord would rescue him. What David did was better than running away.

Instead of running from your troubles, you should run to God in prayer. You can be certain He will help you.

Devotional Prayer: Lord, keep me steady in Your will, even when I find myself facing problems. Help me to trust You to help me through my troubles, instead of running from the troubles.

Today’s Bible Reading: Numbers 16:41-18:32; Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 11:7