Pastor’s Pen: When troubles come

Severn Bridge, Ontario, the area where Iris and I lived in Canada, had prevailing winds from Georgian Bay, which was of the eastern side of Lake Huron.

Further to the west was Michigan, home to many industries, some of which spewed smoke into the air. Chemicals from the smoke mingled with cloud moisture form acid rain which killed many trees and other vegetation.

On Brady Drive, where I walked Sam, our dog, Jim Weir had built a huge one story bungalow. He cultivated a lawn and a huge vegetable patch with vegetables of all kinds. He was an industrious guy and would regularly tend his vegetable patch, remove weeds and shoo off unwanted birds and vermin. His garden was impressive.

One day, when the vegetables were close to maturity, a shower of acid rain fell. Evidence that it was acid rain was discovered several days later when many of Jim’s plants showed signs of damage. Sadly he lost many of the more tender plants. The robust plants were damaged but survived - barely. The rain did not discriminate between where or on whom it fell.

In the gospel of Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) Jesus says: “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

I suppose the point here is that good and bad things happen to everyone, believers and non-believers alike – no one is exempt. However, the difference between people who know Jesus as Saviour, and those who don’t is in how we each deal with the situations we face.

For those who know Jesus as Saviour, troubles still come, pain of loss is still felt, illness still occurs, but there is, through it all, an inner peace that helps us traverse our suffering. This is a peace that Jesus gives to those who know and love him.

Jesus said: “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give.” (John 14:27)

This is a peace and a confident assurance of a future with hope that you will never know until you truly know Jesus. No Jesus - no peace. Know Jesus - know peace.