Many of you reading this title might be thinking I’ve lost my mind. But let me assure you, I feel like I’ve truly found something invaluable. While we often expend so much energy trying to avoid problems, troubles, and things we deem unpleasant, the truth is—trouble carries within it a blessing for those who are willing to face it honestly.

Trouble can be a harsh mirror, revealing parts of ourselves that we’d rather not see. It doesn’t knock politely; it barges in and forces us to confront realities we’d prefer to ignore. But here’s the beauty in it: trouble stretches us. It pushes us beyond our self-imposed limitations and allows us to accomplish so much more than we ever thought possible.

Difficulty is not a dirty word. It’s a misunderstood gift. We are not made strong by what we manage to avoid, but by what we are forced to face head-on. Trouble presents us with a challenge, and that challenge is a divine invitation to grow, to tap into the latent potential that lies dormant within us. It’s easy to coast through life, to do what needs to be done and then take it easy. But this has never been the way of God.

Throughout history, God has always placed His people in challenging situations—not to crush them, but to bring out the best in them. Think of the Israelites in the wilderness, David facing Goliath, or Daniel in the lion’s den. Each of these situations was difficult, even life-threatening, yet each one was an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed and for His people to grow stronger in their faith.

Trials and tests aren’t sent to make us crash and burn; they are opportunities to learn, to grow, and to discover the areas in our lives where we need God’s strength the most. They reveal our weaknesses, yes, but they also reveal the power of God that is available to us if we would only ask. God brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can be cast entirely upon Him. In this way, He is glorified, the enemy is defeated, and we are made purer, wiser, and stronger.

As I reflect on the stories of the Bible, I’m struck by how much we can learn from those who have gone before us. Job, who lost everything yet remained faithful. David, who faced giant after giant—both literal and metaphorical. Daniel, who stood firm in his faith even in the face of death. Moses, who led a stubborn and rebellious people through the desert. Abraham, who trusted God’s promise even when it seemed impossible. Each of these stories is a testament to the fact that God is always working, even in the midst of our greatest troubles.

So, I choose to accept trouble from His hand. Not begrudgingly, but with a heart that understands that through it all, God is shaping me, refining me, and preparing me for something greater. Trouble is not my enemy; it is a friend that brings me closer to the One who loves me most.

In moments of difficulty, let us remember James 1:2-4, which says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Trouble, when viewed through the eyes of faith, is a tool in the hands of a loving God, designed to make us mature and complete, lacking nothing.

So, the next time trouble knocks on your door, don’t shrink back. Instead, see it for what it truly is—a divine opportunity to grow, to be strengthened, and to draw closer to God. After all, trouble can be such a friend.

About Pastor James Smith

Pastor James Smith, Valparaiso, Indiana – Founder of PreachIt.org, OpportunityHope.org, and PastoralHelps.com.

He equips pastors worldwide with sermons, leadership tools, and encouragement, while also caring for orphaned and at-risk children in West Bengal, India through OpportunityHope. Beyond the orphanage and school, OpportunityHope provides clean water wells, livestock, and other humanitarian helps to families and villages in need. Additional books, leadership training, and mentoring resources are available through PastoralHelps.com.