Troubles to the Right and Left
The Bible makes one thing very clear about trials.
And it makes clear that you must go through many of them to enter the kingdom of God. That’s what it says in Acts chapter 20. Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I know something about going through many trials. Earlier this year you know I was battling a recurring cancer, and that meant having to line up lots of people to help. Oh, my goodness, it was like having troubles to the right and left of me. My husband Ken needed a break; I was battling this cancer; I needed extra hands to assist with getting me up in the morning, driving to medical appointments, helping me in bed at night, staying overnight. Now, normally, you wouldn’t consider finding help as a trial. But when all your friends have jobs and families to take care of, when they have their vacations planned and holidays, well, it can be a challenge. And at first, I felt so overwhelmed. I mean, like I said, troubles to the left and right of me; it’s just too much trouble.
But no matter what my troubles, I know God’s in charge. And I know that my challenges are no surprise to Him. He calls me to keep looking up, keep pressing on, keep moving forward and trusting Him to help me reach my destination – to get through this cancer in one piece; keep plowing ahead; help will come, yes, in the form of friends and God’s favor. Joni, just trust the Lord, keep moving forward; don’t collapse in discouragement! And, friend, I found inspiration for doing just this, in a very strange passage in the Old Testament. It’s in 1 Samuel chapter 14, and it tells the story of Jonathan, the son of King Saul. He devised a bold scheme to defeat the Philistines. Stealing out of camp in the middle of the night with his armor-bearer, Jonathan has in mind to take on the Philistines by surprise – just he and his armor-bearer. Well, this is no easy effort, because before a victory can be won, Jonathan and his armor–bearer have to overcome a very high mountain pass. And that pass is described in 1 Samuel 14:4, where it says, “Within the pass by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other, Seneh.”
Now, if you have to face a trial, it’s one thing; you can get through it. But for the person who has trouble to the right and left of him, those trials are like Bozez and Seneh. Why does the Bible make mention, why does it name these two mountain crags? Because even though they seem impassible, those two rocky points provided a strategic position for a very great victory. And if I would but do what Jonathan did, squeezed between two difficult troubles; if I would but just hold on and keep climbing, I would achieve a victory. And I did. I got through the cancer; God provided more than enough help. And He got the glory.
So, do you see yourself squeezed between trials that are high, sharp and unyielding? Do as Jonathan did. With troubles to the left and right of him, keep climbing higher. Don’t sit down; don’t ring your hands in the shadows of your Bozez and Seneh looming on either side. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, climb. Dr. Talmadge puts it this way, he says, “The Gospel asks us to climb as Jonathan did – striving upward, toward heaven, into the sunshine of God’s favor. To be a Christian is to come gloriously up – up into the peace that passes all understanding.” And, friend, that’s how your trials can be a strategic position from which you can trust God, gain victory, and showcase His glory. God bless you today and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends!
© Joni and Friends
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