The Day of Trouble



“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee” -PSALM 20:1 [KJV]


Sound doctrine is absolutely essential to knowing the true God in Christ. We know Him only if we know Him as He is revealed in the scriptures and we have hope of eternal life only through His life and death as declared in the Gospel.
Yet, correct doctrine and a clear head understanding of these things, as vital as they are, often become very hollow and empty in the time of trial. When tragedy comes, when life-threatening afflictions come, when grievous family circumstances come, the Lord’s people would trade all for a moment of God’s felt presence. Their desire is to know the blessed Holy Spirit as the “Comforter.”

To feel the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by Him would bring a ray of sunlight on an otherwise dark day. Oh to hear Him say to our broken spirits from His word, “I will never leave you or forsake you” is the greatest delight. The facts of many precious things mean nothing in that hour unless God makes us to experience the comforting joy of them. In those moments, they are not found disputing from the book of Romans but running to the book of Psalms for words of comfort. When the enemies of God and of our souls besiege us, then, we are like the Psalmist, “Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation” [PSALM 35:3].

What emptiness is found in the words of God unless they are spoken by Him to our souls! How cold glorious truths are in those hours unless we feel the hand of Him who is the Truth. Someone always says that feelings do not matter, only what God says. But God is not an impersonal God but God in our nature, sin excluded. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” [HEBREWS 4:15,16]. If our relationship to the living God in His Son is viewed and considered only in it’s legal aspects without the experimental aspects of that relationship, what a cold and hollow thing it is, especially in the “day of trouble.”

Christ died on the cross and obtained eternal redemption for His people, but where is He now? What is He to me now? I married my wife 40 years ago and have the legal proof of it but my delight is in her embrace, in her fellowship, in HER NOW! What Christ did 2000 years ago assures the experience of His promises and words to us now, especially in what He calls, “the day of trouble.” If you are one of the Lord’s chosen and do not yet know what I’m talking about, you will. May you have more that correct words then, may He speak to you. It is easy to say anything or defend anything or debate anything until that hour.


-Gospel report by preacher Gary Shepard

Sovereign Grace Baptist church of Jacksonville, North Carolina USA

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