Troubles and triumph
by Jonathan Krause
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You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes (Psalm 54:7).
Read Psalm 54
How is life for you right now?
I’m sitting at my desk, struggling to know what to say to you that will be of value.
It’s a shame I’m no longer in my 20s. Back then, I knew everything! And I was so confident in my knowledge that I had to let everyone know!
Now, the only thing that is black and white is my football team.
When I read this psalm, I wondered a little how it applied to me. The enemies the psalmist talks about seem so brutal, angry and militaristic. I don’t know if that’s how life is for you, but for me, the enemies feel a bit more subtle and closer to home.
Yes, there are the challenges life throws at you. But that’s life.
I’m old enough to remember a prime minister declaring, ‘Life wasn’t meant to be easy’. He got lampooned for that, but perhaps it’s a fair observation.
Yet, having worked for people in the developing world for more than 30 years and seen hunger front-on, war all around and overwhelming disaster, that’s when I think I (and you) can say life wasn’t meant to be easy.
But perhaps that’s too harsh. Pain is pain. No matter the cause. We all have our troubles.
I don’t know that I want to look with triumph on my foes. I think I’d rather just see the triumph I have in Jesus and celebrate and share that. Do you know what I mean?
Thank you for hanging out with me this past week. I have enjoyed talking with you and being challenged to think about my faith in this reflective way. I hope a word or two along the way has been a help to you. I have tried my best.
Thank you, Jesus, for walking with me through life’s troubles and promising me I can look forward to living in triumph with you. What a joy. Thank you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
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