Religion: A Pastor Ponders

When Troubles Come

by Pastor William Jenkins

September 16, 2005

Mary Culler White was a missionary to China during World War II. One afternoon she was on a hillside praying when 16,000 Japanese soldiers surrounded the hill.

Some Chinese friends ran to her bishop greatly distressed. “Miss Mary is surrounded by 16,000 enemy soldiers!” they exclaimed in terror. “What are we going to do?”

The bishop, who knew the considerable power of prayer and missionary Mary’s special relationship with God through prayer, replied, “Well, those soldiers got themselves into this mess; they can just get themselves out of it!”

The bishops response was much like Elisha’s when his servant told him that they were surrounded by Syrian soldiers who had come to seize him. The servant saw troops, horses, chariots and trouble all around them and cried out to Elisha, “What are we going to do?” Calmly, Elisha told him not to be afraid, “For our army is bigger than theirs.”

Then God opened the eyes of the servant and he saw the mighty armies of heaven surrounding them and dwarfing the armies of Syria. (This story is recorded in 2 Kings 6.)

We are fond of saying such things as, If God be for us, who can be against us; Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world; The angels of the Lord encamp around those who fear Him.

In spite of these well-worn verses we choose to live with fear, anxiety, doubt, and insecurity when troubles come. Too readily do we allow what is outside of us to squeeze out what is inside of us, namely our faith and confidence in God.

Like the three Hebrew children Missionary Mary and Elisha believed God was greater than the trial of the moment and would see them through one way or another.

All of us have our momentary trials, sometimes our enduring trials. The resource of prayer gives us the perspective of victory.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

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