What to do when trouble comes…and it will surely

By Tope Banso
Nobody prays for troubles and no sane person loves troubles. Nonetheless, troubles come to people at different times in their lives. Troubles can be caused by someone’s sins or mistakes. Other causes of trouble include the mistakes or wickedness of others and the sheer operations of the devil.
The current COVID-19 pandemic is a trouble that has befallen the world. It is disruptive, bringing nearly all human activities to a standstill. Nations are locked down. The people are on a forced holiday. Men and women, the young and the old, and the rich and the poor are under house arrest!
Thousands of people have died. Many are currently infected and are undergoing treatment. Several others who have tested positive, but have no symptoms yet, are in self-isolation. Everyone is affected in one way or the other even when they’re not infected.
When trouble comes! The governments of the world are in trouble. This is not the best of times for government officials. Some of them have been infected by this deadly virus; they’re either in self-isolation or in isolation centres for treatment.
The resources available to government are dwindling because the nations’ economies are about to enter recession or depression. In the midst of the present trouble, some government policies appear not to be well thought-out. As the government locks down cities and states, some governments fail to address the people’s well-being and survival during the period they’re expected to stay at home so that the lockdown can be effective.
The people are caught between the rock and a hard place! That is between hunger and Covid-19! They are between the devil and the deep blue sea! They must choose one. Trouble has come!
Globally, as of 30th March, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases is 715, 660 with a total of 33,579 deaths recorded (European Centre for Disease Control). The highest number of deaths is recorded in Italy (6,528), China (3,311), Iran (2, 640), France (2, 606), United States (2, 509), United Kingdom, (1,228) and Netherlands (771). There are also other countries with high fatalities. Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, among others, have recorded very few deaths.
Psalm 27:5 says, “For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock” (New Living Translation). According to Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him” (New Living Translation).
From these two scriptures, you can see those words: “when troubles come” and “when trouble comes.” Therefore, it is not a matter of “if” but “when” troubles will come. The trouble you go through may not be because of your own sin; it could be because of the mistake or wickedness of others or demonic attacks.
Whatever be the causes of troubles, as bad as troubles are, they have their benefits! That is not to say one should desire trouble or pray for it. As much as it lies within one’s power, one should avoid trouble and pray against it, as in the case of the current pandemic. Nevertheless, all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
2 Chronicles 15:1-4 says, “Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: ‘Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them” (New King James Version).
In the scripture above, Asa, the king of Judah, and his people would not have turned to the LORD if not for the trouble caused by the nation’s rebellion. The Bible says that when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.
If after they had turned away from the LORD, everything continued to go well with them, they would have had no reason to repent and go back to God. Of course, the cycle of rebellion, punishment and return to God continued with the children of Israel until they went into captivity.
In the world today, many people live their lives forgetting the LORD. It takes the consequences that follow, in the form of trouble, for some of them to humble themselves and begin to seek God. However, a wise person would rather obey and serve God than wait for the punishment, evil or disaster that follows rebellion against God before he returns to Him.
I pray that in the present trouble in the world, the LORD shall keep you. “He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you” (Job 5:19 New King James Version).
In the book of Revelation, John saw visions of plagues, which are going to be part of the events that will happen at the end of this present age. He saw four angels who had been prepared for the mission to kill one-third of all the people on earth.
They led an army of 200 million mounted troops. John saw the horses and the riders, who had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone, which he described as three plagues.
According to Revelation 9:18, “By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths” (New King James Version). Did you see that? The plague killed one third of those on earth.
Unfortunately, the rest of humanity, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not repent of their worship of demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear or walk. Neither did they repent of murders, sorceries, sexual immorality or thefts (verses 20-21).
No matter the explanations scientists give as the causes of plagues, the Bible tells us there is a relationship between sin and plagues. Sad enough, even after the three plagues John referred to in Revelation 9:18, those who survived failed to repent.
Child of God, don’t be afraid in the present trouble the world is going through. You won’t become a statistic. God will take care of you. The New King James Version of Psalm 27:5, which I quoted earlier, says, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”
According to Psalm 34:19, the righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one. 2 Corinthians 4:18b says the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
In Psalm 91:15, the psalmist says, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him” (New King James Version). That shall be your experience this season and always in Jesus’ name. The present plague will not consume you. When this trouble is over, neither you nor your loved ones will be missing.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the current trouble of Covid-19, hide me in Your pavilion; hide me in the secret place of Your tabernacle. Set me high upon a rock, out of the reach of this deadly virus.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 260 in-depth and insightful messages by T. O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso, a pastor, is head of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; and be reached at Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947