I’m old enough to remember the comedy show, “Dennis the Menace.”  Dennis was the naïve and lovable young child who was always getting into mischief–especially with his elderly neighbor, Mr. Wilson.  It got to the point where anytime Dennis was in the vicinity, Mr. Wilson would think, “Here comes trouble.” Only Dennis’ innocence and cuteness kept him from becoming a permanent menace.

The Bible is full of men whose words and actions made others think, “Here comes trouble.”  Micaiah was such a man.  He was a prophet of God, but never seemed to have a good word for the king of Israel.  When the king was trying to find out whether to go to war or not with an enemy, his ally, Jehoshaphat, suggested asking Michaiah.  The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” (II Chronicles 18:7)  He knew any time he had to call on Micaiah, “Here comes trouble!”  He was right!

Think of the trouble Pharoah had with Moses.  Because he stubbornly refused to set the Hebrews free, God sent plague after plague. (Exodus 7-11) Every time Moses came back into pharaoh’s presence, he must have thought, “Here comes trouble!”  He was right!

Before Paul had his Damascus Road experience, he persecuted any Christian he could find.  But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. (Acts 8:3)  You better believe that when they heard of Paul coming, they thought, “Here comes trouble!” They were right!

Once Paul was called by Jesus, he spent his life trying to spread the Good News and set up groups to worship together.  He and Silas were so successful that non-believing Jews tried to capture them at another believer’s home.  Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. (Acts 17:6)  The mob of Jews obviously felt, “Here comes trouble!”  They were right!

As Christians, we sometimes feel that we should be immune to the troubles that life can throw our way.  After all, we attend church, we give our tithes and offerings, participate in a variety of ministries, take care of our widows, and visit the prisons.  Doesn’t this earn us a life free from troubles?  Job, in the midst of his time of suffering had this to say,  Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10)  He was a good man who lost everything and yet knew that being good wasn’t the answer.  John quoted Jesus as saying, Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. (John 16:33) So, don’t be surprised when fellow Christians warn you, “Here comes trouble!”  They are right!  What we do have as Christians is the promise from Jesus in the second half of John 16:33,  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  Because of this, Christians believe that they, too, can overcome any trouble this world can dish out.  And they are right!