Facing Trouble But Living In Triumph

How can people facing trouble live in triumph? A little leaguer was watching his team from the end of the bench. His dad arrived late for the game and walked up to his son for a report. “What’s the score?” the dad asked. “We’re behind 11-0,” the boy said enthusiastically. “Well son,” said the father, “you sure don’t seem worried.”  “Worried, why should we be worried?” the boy shot back. “We haven’t even come to bat yet!”

Facing trouble, but living in triumph! Is it just for little leaguers? Not according to Paul. Paul knew trouble. When he arrived at Troas he stepped into a waiting room of worry. Titus was missing! Was he okay? Had bandits attacked? Were there problems that Paul didn’t know about? Trouble cast an eerie shadow over Paul’s peace of mind, but he was not ready to quit.

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Corinthians 2:12-14 NIV)

Paul knew that the score in the first inning did not dictate the outcome in the ninth. God had already guaranteed the victory! Didn’t God pledge never to leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:5)? Didn’t God say the Messiah would reign (Psalm 2)? Didn’t Jesus promise to build his church (Matthew 16:18)? Paul knew the final score. That certainty gave him peace even as he faced his problems.

“Worried, why should we be worried? We haven’t even come to bat yet!”

MY PRAYER: Father, as I face trouble today help me to remember that you have guaranteed the final score. Help me to live in the peace of your ultimate triumph!