Trouble

Elizabeth Elliot Devotional

Title: Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

When we begin to imagine that our own problems
are so deep, so insoluble, or so unusual that no
one really understands us, we delude ourselves.
It is one of the many delusions of pride, for
Scripture tells us not only that our High Priest,
Christ, has been tempted in every way as we are,
but that no temptation has ever come our way that
is not common to man. There are no more new
temptations than there are new sins. Our story,
whatever it is, is an old one, and He who has
walked the human road has entered fully into our
experiences of sorrow and pain and has overcome
them. He has comforted others in our situation,
gone with them into the same furnaces and lions'
dens, has brought them out without smell of fire
or mark of tooth.

It is a bad thing to take refuge in difficulties,
thus excusing ourselves from responsibility to
others because we think our situation is unique.
If we are willing to receive help, our Helper is
standing by--sometimes in the form of another
human being sent by Him, qualified by Him to help
us. It may be a case of our not receiving help
because we were too proud to receive the kind God
sent. Sometimes we really prefer to wallow.

"Ours is not a high priest unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one who, because of his
likeness to us, has been tested every way, only
without sin. Let us therefore boldly approach the
throne of our gracious God, where we may receive
mercy and in his grace find timely help" (Heb
4:15, 16 NEB).