Are you in trouble? Everyone’s in some kind of trouble: financial trouble, personal trouble. Maybe you have a troubled past.
Whatever the nature of your trouble, the reason you have trouble is sin. Sin results in a troubled life for everyone. It’s the reason we wander, the reason we faint, the reason we sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Sin makes us rebels, who spurn the Most High. Indeed, through our sinful ways we are fools, who suffer affliction because of our iniquities. We fall down, with seemingly none to help. 
In the face of this evil plight, our courage melts away; we stagger and reel like drunken men at their wits’ end. We’re in trouble. We see it every day. We don’t like it, but what can we do? Who will deliver us from this body of death?
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.” Yes, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart; the Lord has redeemed you from trouble. He has purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. He has gathered you into His family, the Church. He fills your hungry soul with good things. He raises you up out of darkness and death every time you remember your Baptism. He grants you wisdom by His Word, and He is there to help.
“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” It endured all the way to the cross, where Christ our Lord took all our troubles to die. Now, we have hope of a world without trouble, a world in which our troubles will not even be remembered.
Are you in trouble? No doubt. In this world you will have trouble; but the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed you from trouble. You are His. You are loved. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
About the Author: Adam Douthwaite is a proud alumnus of Florida State University (Class of ‘09) when he attended University Lutheran and served as a Peer Minister and worship leader. He currently serves as associate pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Dallas, TX. He lives with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Eden (3) and Isaac (1).