Trouble is coming, AND God is good.

Following Jesus does not exclude you from difficulties.

If anything, it leads you into them. Go look at the story in Matthew 8. The disciples followed Jesus onto a boat that was destined to be rocked by a storm. No "LOL"... it really happened. ;)

Consider these verses: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ... I have said these things to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 15:18 and 16:33 ESV)

See that? Whew.

We have this mistaken expectation that, as Christians, nothing should ever go wrong for us. Jesus actually tells us to expect the opposite.

Here's a sobering reality: before Christ, you had one enemy, and that was God.

Now that you’ve accepted Christ, you have 3 enemies: the world, your flesh, & the devil (though God is greater).

But now, in Christ, you are not only reconciled to God, but you are adopted into His family. He has broken down the wall of division and brought you near.

We have enemies, but, in Christ, God is no longer one of them. Still, we do have enemies!

Also, we need to face the fact that we live in a broken, sin-fallen world, where things simply don’t work as they’re designed to.

We need to hear and heed the counsel of the Apostle Peter: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV, emphasis mine)

The world is big, bad, mean, and broken. It's true.

God is good.

Both are true. God is the realer reality that never stops being real and realer. The world will end, but the Lord will not. His goodness trumps and outlasts this world.

Face it; life is tough. Face it in Him; this won't be the end of the story.