Rev. A.J. Ogden

No one could deny that the last few years have brought upon America ups, downs, trials, triumphs, profits, and loss, pain, joys, sorrows, storms, earthquakes, and adversities of many kinds. We may be prone to look at the dark side of circumstances not stopping to realize that things could be much worse. Other nations have suffered far more then we have. It could be worse.

Surely, I must remind myself and others; we need to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. It’s never so bad that it couldn’t be worse.

Paul the apostle gives us an encouraging verse of scripture in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Really, we often learn more from hardships than we learn from mountain top experiences.

I have noticed that every time a great number of people are in danger we always have a brave hero who helps save some lives. Trouble brings out the best in him or her. During the recent storms I’ve noticed how some brave policemen have put their own lives in danger to rescue others who were about to perish. Also, many soldiers have shed their blood to maintain the freedom we have.

When friends and strangers have trouble, it is opportunity for us to help them, and we receive a blessing for having done so. When our neighbors have burdens and sorrow, that is a time for us to help bear their burdens. Troubles give us opportunities if we appropriate them. Somehow trouble often seems to being out the best in a person. A smooth sea never makes a good sailor. There is a lesson in every storm.