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You Will Have Trouble
Brian Mashburn
April 12, 2009
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You Are In Trouble
Master: I promise that you will have trouble in this world.
Disciple: Forgive me, Lord, but what then do I have to look forward to in following you?
Master: That I will love you perfectly and ceaselessly through it.
Disciple: Why would you not, in your perfect love, deliver me from my trouble in this world?
Master: I rebuke you, my apprentice! Just as I did Martha when she accused me of not caring for her, even as I traveled to Jerusalem to die in her place, I firmly rebuke you, my child, for such grave inattention to what I have done for you. I have overcome the world. But in this world you will have trouble.
Disciple: Forgive me, Lord, I beg you, but it seems to me that what is good and right for me is plain! And yet you fail to deliver me from trouble when I ask.
Master: What is good and right for you is plain, but you can not see it. I can. Your only peace is to trust me.
Disciple: But why would you ever allow trouble for me?
Master: If you love my Father's gifts more than you love my Father, your very life is in jeopardy. Every trouble you have is your invitation to the greatest gift He has for you...the gift of Himself.
Disciple: Please give me the Father, Lord. That will be enough for me. Please make it so.
Master: Who will separate you from the love of Christ? Will trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No. Seek first the Father, in your trouble, and you, too, will overcome the world.
Disciple: You are so sure. How can I be?
Master: Take heart. Just as I overcame the death of the cross with the life of the resurrection, so shall you.