—Psalm 34:19 (Geneva Bible, 1560)
I wonder what the "name-it-claim-it" preachers of the prosperity gospel do with this passage? It's nice to believe in deliverance from difficulties. But if I actually deny the existence of the difficulties, then what exactly am I being delivered from? Or if I believe the difficulties occurred in the first place due to a lack of righteousness or faith, then what makes my deliverance any difference from a wicked person experiencing a run of good luck?
Troubles are real. And so is God's deliverance. To deny the existence of one is to render the other pointless at best, and nonexistent at worst.
Sometimes, Lord, I feel that I need to thank you for life's difficulties. Without them, I would need no faith; without them, there would be no need to look to you for salvation. Bring me through my troubles, and deliver me in Jesus' Name and for his sake. Amen.
