How precious to have a friend so interested in you that anything you
say about your trouble will find an interested listener. It is a
relief to speak to such a friend. Many of God's people find this
relief every day. Many a trouble can be told to none but Him who
keeps every secret and sympathises with every distress (P. D. 462,
463).
What do we need in the time of trouble? It is all in this prayer: GOD
HIMSELF. Each petition resolves itself into something that God is,
and is to us.
1. _His Graciousness._ The root of everything must be the Divine
disposition. He might be malevolent, unpitying, unmerciful. There
might be a cause of separation sufficient to prevent any favourable
access to Him. In the case of multitudes there is such a cause. Many
live without God, ignore Him, disregard His authority, yet in the
time of trouble imagine they may fly to Him, in the face of His Word,
which says until sin is abandoned there can be no friendship with
Him. He has provided a gracious way of reconciliation. The first step
we must take is the coming to Him through the Saviour for the mercy
that obliterates all past transgressions. In many cases the time of
trouble is sent as the means of leading us to the Saviour. To be
assured of His gracious disposition while He permits the trouble,
goes far towards the comfort of the troubled heart. He loves you
although you are under discipline. The sun shines in full splendour
although it is hidden behind a cloud. We may wait patiently for the
trouble to pass away, so long as we can confidently ask the Lord to
be gracious unto us.
2. _His Strength._ "Be Thou their arm every morning." The time of
trouble reveals our weakness. Mental energy, courage, bodily power
often succumb under the pressure of heavy trouble. We realise the
value of a strength beyond our own. It is better to pass through "the
time of trouble" with God for our arm every morning, than to be
exempt from trouble and left without Him. Paul groaned under the pain
of his thorn in the flesh and besought the Lord thrice to take it
away. But Christ's assurance, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for
my strength is made perfect in weakness," together with his
experience of its sufficiency, made him glory in his infirmity. We
need the arm of God for defence against the enemy; to lean upon for
the work that may be necessary to our extrication from trouble.
3. _His Salvation._ From some troubles salvation cannot be in the
shape of restoration of the previously existing state of things. The
young man loses his precious wife and child; and in their grave it
seems that every interest for him is buried. They cannot be restored.
But God's salvation can come to him in the form of a richer spiritual
experience, a deeper acquaintance with His Word and Way, a completer
consecration to His service, and a larger inflowing of Divine
consolation than he could have known without it. But there are some
troubles from which salvation comes by their cessation: sicknesses,
and business reverses. They are severe while they continue. But
deliverance comes. In some cases greater prosperity is realised than
formerly, to which, in God's wonder-working Providence, the trouble
was necessary. Joseph in Egypt. Job. The trouble may have been severe
temptation. If saved, you are the stronger for it. Cry to God in
trouble. Let it be the time of special prayer.