Are You Facing Trouble?
Trouble comes in different sizes. Some are small enough for you to ignore. Others are meager enough for you to manage alone. But what do you do when you are surrounded by an army of trouble? That was the question the servant of Elisha wanted an answer to the morning an army of trouble came looking for them.
He got up early that morning as was his custom. He had had a good night’s rest. The sun was up and the day looked bright. So there was no reason to suspect that this would be anything but a good day. But he was in for a surprise, and not a very pretty one! When he stepped outside, he noticed something that scared him so much, he may have wet himself. An entire army of Syrian soldiers, equipped with horses and chariots, had surrounded him and Elisha. An army of trouble had come looking for them and they were found!
Do you know what it’s like for an army of trouble to come looking for you? What it feels like to be surrounded by trouble? You know an army of trouble has located you when trouble shows up everywhere, in your marriage, in your checkbook, in your children, in you ministry, in your workplace. And all of these things are happening the same time!
Your spouse is not acting right, and while you are trying to deal with that, you get a call from the school that your son hasn’t been showing up for classes, and while you are trying to deal with that the car breaks down. Now you’ve got to come up with money you don’t have to fix it. It’s just one thing after another. On top of all this, the doctor just diagnosed you with a serious illness.
“Alas, my master, what shall we do?”, the servant exclaimed. He was very worried and afraid. You would be too, unless you knew what Elisha knew.
Notice how different Elisha’s response was.
“So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, “ Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings 6:16, 17 NKJV)
Here is the Apostle John’s version of the same spiritual reality.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4 NKJV)
Child of God, when trouble comes, what will you be saying? “Oh no, oh no, no, no, what shall I do?” Or will you be able to say calmly and confidently, “I see trouble everywhere, but I know there are more with me than there are with them. I know greater is He who is in me than everything that is against me.”
Are you facing trouble today? Be encouraged. Even if you are surrounded by an entire army of it, you do not need to worry or be afraid. Why? There will always be more for you than those against you. And the One who dwells in you will always be greater than that which is in the world.
The truth is, your troubles are in trouble!
A Moment of Grace 
My troubles are “in troubles”. Amen Amen. What a encouraging word. May God wisdom to his people to know dis truth. Amen
Oh Bishop, they are surely in trouble. Big trouble too. Thanks for the WORD!
Growing up in South Carolina, I can remember the older saints responding to a very good message by simply saying, “Well.” I have the same response to this message. Thank you Bishop Johnson.
great words