When life springs a leak …

Last week someone posted the picture to the right on a social media site. It captured my attention because it represents how people often respond when “life springs a leak” — when a trial or trouble comes along and disrupts our comfort and peace.

The first person doesn’t know what to do (we often may not initially), so he panics; his panic sparks anxiety and if he continues to fan it, it could lead to depression and allowing the trouble to dominate his emotions and flood his mind with irrational thoughts — especially fear.

Then there’s the second half of the picture, which represents the person who may not like the interruption of the trial or trouble — the uninvited intrusion into his circumstances — but since it’s presence is beyond his control, he decides if he can’t stop the leak he’ll work at making something beautiful of it.

How do you respond when life springs a leak?

Here are a few scriptures that may be helpful to you when trials or troubles come your way:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them,” Romans 8:28.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith,” 1 John 5:4.

Scotty