When Trials Come, What Does the Bible Mean to You?

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

This question is rhetorical, because the righteous can’t do anything of value if God’s Word is removed as part of the equation, but since it is sufficient, our troubles are not worrisome.”

Do you understand the significance of that question? The Word doesn’t need an update; it doesn’t need to be improved and be more relevant; it shouldn’t be watered down or belittled.

It is what it is: God’s sufficient Word. The word “sufficient” means “enough.” Not a “that’ll do approach,” but “I don’t need anything else.”

I would assume most of us affirm the sufficiency of Scripture. I would assume we could echo II Timothy 3:16 with a hearty “Amen.”

But practically speaking, do we live as if the Bible is completely irrelevant to our troubles? We see a trial on the horizon and we get on our cell phones and start calling people for help as if man somehow trumps God’s faithful, perfect sufficient Word.

One of my favorite preachers as a young man was the late James M. Boice, who pastored Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and he says, “Our problem is in deciding whether the Bible is sufficient for the church’s life and work. We confess its authority, but we discount its ability to do what is necessary to draw unbelievers to Christ, enable us to grow in godliness, provide direction for our lives, and transform and revitalize society.”

You say, “How do we do that? How do we discount it’s sufficiency?” When we look at troubles and fly to the mountain, or we try to pretend our troubles won’t find us. When we live our lives running scared from trials and acting like the sky is falling, we do not believe in the sufficiency of Scripture.

When trials come, we don’t need to seek another way but God’s way, because the Lord will provide for our needs and because His Word is sufficient.

“When trials come no longer fear for in the pain our God draws near To fire a faith worth more than gold and there His faithfulness is told.

Within the night I know Your peace – the breath of God brings strength to me And new each morning mercy flows as treasures of the darkness grow.

I turn to Wisdom not my own, for every battle You have known My confidence will rest in You. Your love endures Your ways are good.

When I am weary with the cost, I see the triumph of the cross So in it’s shadow I shall run till You complete the work begun.

One day all things will be made new. I’ll see the hope You called me to And in your kingdom paved with gold, I’ll praise your faithfulness of old.”