Following Jesus today, our lives will not be free from suffering and hardship. We’re not removed from the world when we become Christians, we continue to live in it, part of the fabric and culture.

The troubles that are common to all people will also be common to us. The suffering caused by our own sins and failures – harsh words that drive people away from us, foolish decisions that we wish we hadn’t made. The suffering caused by others – vindictive behaviour of a teacher, health problems from unnecessary drugs. Finally, there are the those things for which we cannot hold anyone responsible. Day to day illness, cancer and the like.

We are not spared from the ordinary troubles common to man, indeed we also have the added troubles that come from following Christ. Loyalty to Jesus is costly. He makes demands on our time and energy. He can drive a wedge in our family relationships and it’s no secret that some Christians literally have to flee their homes as a result. In both cases however, common trouble or special trouble, let us remember that hardship and suffering is there to test our faith and grow our dependence on the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 8:1-6; Hebrews 12:1-12). It is for our good even as it was for the good of David (cf. Romans 8:28-29).

As Christian believers, let us be attentive then to God’s provision and praise him for it. Food to eat, a home to live in. They may be small things to our mind but they are still from the hand of our Father. Let us also be confident that the LORD will keep us until our time is done. The one who guards your life will never sleep (cf. Psalm 121). Finally, let us remember that God remains gracious where we sin. He encourages us with words from fellow believers. He encourages us with Word and Sacrament ministry. He gave his Son to secure our future. He won’t abandon us when we fail the test of faith.  There may be many times where we are faithless, but he remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).