Where Do You Turn?

by Shane Williams
via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 10, No. 4, August 2009.

Where you turn when you're in trouble reveals your character. What does it tell us about young kids whose trouble turns them toward gangs, guns, or drugs? What do we learn about adults whose problems direct them toward alcohol, adultery, or the weird teachings of a cult?

What about ourselves? Where do we turn when we have trouble in life? Do we look to the world of the Bible for wisdom? Where do we look for help when we are struggling with sin? We must turn to the Lord Jesus and to His Word. He is the only one who can help and certainly, the only one who can offer us forgiveness. The answers of this world will never lead us to "real" help but only to destruction.

The Christians to whom Peter addressed were facing various trials (I Peter 1:6), slander and maligning (I Peter 3:15; 4:4), sufferings, and reviling (I Peter 4:12-14). To whom should they turn? Not to the world or its ways, but rather to "the God of all grace" (I Peter 5:10). We need to look back and remember that He called us, recognize His glory in Christ, and look ahead to see how God is equipping us through our difficulties. "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (I Peter 5:10).

Trouble on the horizon? Put your confidence in God. He helped the early Christians who suffered through persecution to overcome. He will help us through our troubles today.