“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time”. Psalm 34:19 (NLT)
Have you ever been at a point where you knew you’d had better days and wondered how you ended up there? I have. In the middle of different things happening all at once, almost to the point of feeling overwhelmed, I heard these words: “A good year has troubles too.” When I stopped to think about it, it made perfect sense. It encouraged me, and I believe it might encourage you too.
Life is not without its fair share of trials, challenges, disappointments, obstacles, and betrayals. A life in Christ is beautiful and amazing, but it is not trouble-free. Even Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)
Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV) says: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Notice it says “when”, not “if.” Troubles are an inevitable part of our life’s journey.
Maybe you began this year with big goals, high hopes, and great plans. Now, eight months in, things may not look the way you desired or hoped for. God’s Word to you today is this: “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” (Romans 8:28, VOICE)
Think of a road trip with close friends- potholes, speed bumps, and traffic might slow you down, but they don’t make it a bad trip. Or picture the sea: one moment it is calm and serene, the next, it is filled with waves. Life can be just like that, peaceful one moment, challenging the next. Yet, just like a stormy sea can be stilled in an instant (Mark 4:39), God can turn any situation around in your favour in an instant too (Psalm 126:1-6).
The pot holes, speed bumps, traffic and waves represent the troubles we face on our life’s journey. Sometimes, they’re all part of the process and journey that leads to where God wants us to be.
Things may not always look or feel good or go as planned, what’s most important is to know that all things will eventually work together for your good. Every experience, every situation, every bump in the road is working out to be something beautiful, complete and perfect.
This is still your landmark year, your year of resounding victories, greater works, overflowing joy, restoration, remembrance, testimonies and all the powerful words you received for 2025, but it doesn’t mean that it is a trouble, trials, obstacle or challenge-free year. All these things would come, but be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world- deprived it of power to harm you and conquered it for you. (John 16:33-AMPC)
A good year has troubles too and how God gets us through and around the different challenges life throws at us is what makes a good year a great one at the end. He converts our trials to triumphs, our tests to testimonies and our seemingly messy situations to a message of his unfailing love, mercy and grace.
So whatever it is that you’re going through, let the Holy Spirit take you by the hand and show you the way out of or around it. Don’t succumb to challenges or give up in the face of troubles, overcome them by the help of God and make this good year a truly great one.
For many of us, life would be so much easier if we could just have a peek at the future, see how it all ends and then go back to the beginning and continue the journey. We want to know how our prayers will be answered when they will be answered or if they will …
Some things happen for others earlier and easier, for some others, it takes a little longer and that’s okay, it’s all part of God’s perfect plan. When next there is pressure to compare yourself to someone else, remember that we do not all have the same destiny or destination, we are running individual races and our expected time of arrival is different.
