Do This When Trouble Rises Again

2 Samuel 5:22-23
(22) Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; (23) so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

It is already too much when we are in trouble, but when trouble comes again that is something else. When trouble comes again, the same trouble coming back again, we may despair since it seems our first solution failed. When trouble comes again some people may think that it is the work of some jealous people who have bewitched them. What do you do when trouble rises again against you?

When the same sickness returns after vigorous treatment. When the same loss occurs again after putting measures to prevent it. When you fail a school subject that you are repeating. When marriage is in trouble for the same reason again. When a friend you are dating or courting isn’t changing some behavior that you were fed up with. What do you do when trouble rises again?

2 Samuel 5:17-19
(17) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. (18) Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; (19) so David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The LORD answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king, they attacked him. David went into hiding and after inquiring from God he attacked the Philistines and defeated them. After defeating the Philistines, David believed he could now rest and enjoy life. But that was not the case, trouble from Philistines arose again.

A few verses later, and which is our main text today, the Philistines attacked David again! What? The same problem again? The same problem after God gave us victory just the other day? Didn’t David defeat them? Why are they back? How long will we deal with this Philistine menace? Trouble arose again!

When trouble rose again, David did two things. First, David went back to God and inquired about what to do. When trouble rises again, pray again. Every trouble must be countered with prayer. For every rising of trouble raise a prayer to God. Do not try other gods. Do not go for special prayers that only extort money from you. God answers prayers from everyone and not just some special people. Do not abandon God and try magic or witchcraft. Just pray again the same way you prayed last time. Do this when trouble rises again!

Secondly, David changed his tact and strategy of attacking the Philistines. When David asked God whether he should go and fight and whether he will win, God responded and asked David to go to war because he will win. Then God gave David a new strategy and a new tactic. Sometimes you must realize that you have done everything possible and your method has failed. We should be open to trying something new as a solution to the trouble that rises again. Give the problem a new approach. Do this when trouble rises again!

What problem is rising again in your studies at school? What problem is rising again in your spiritual life? What trouble is rising again in your relationships? What trouble is rising again in your finances? What trouble is rising again in your health? Whatever it is, pray again and take a new approach that is approved by God. Not all approaches are approved by God. Pray again about the trouble. Use a different God-approved method to solve it. Do this when trouble rises again, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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