Word from Wiese

Trifecta of Trials (They Come in Threes)

Trifecta of Trials (They Come in Threes)

20 November 2024

There’s an old adage that bad luck comes in sets of three.

Such was the case for my wife LuAnne.

A few weeks back, we were traveling on the highway when the car in front of us swerved violently to the left. Immediately, we viewed why. Several large pieces of a blown-out truck tire were scattered in the road. There was no time to react safely and we plowed right over one. Later that day, we were told strips of that truck tire trash are sometimes called “black road snakes.” Well, the snakes we ran over that day had fangs of steel because they ripped apart the undercarriage of LuAnne’s car.

After the car visited the body shop a couple of days, we were back in business. Until LuAnne was driving toward church last week on 54 and a deer suddenly jumped in front of her car. LuAnne slammed on the brakes, but the car still struck the deer which tumbled but then was able to get up and keep running into the next neighborhood. The great news is that LuAnne was OK and her car is still drivable but needs yet another visit to the body shop.

They Come in Threes: Trifecta of Trials

For the third piece of back luck in the trifecta of trials, LuAnne was performing her duties outside in Crabapple Elementary’s parking lot for parent pick up of students. It was a very stormy and wet day. Sure enough, one of those gusts was just too much for LuAnne’s umbrella and the whole top was blown inside out. Ugh!

Have you ever had a stretch of life like that? When you hit three (or more) strings of bad luck, or bad days, or bad moments? When, like LuAnne’s umbrella, your life felt blown inside out for a while?

In those moments, God in Scripture offers some very encouraging promises, of which I’d like to remind you:

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings, like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

“In all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

So, my faith friends, I hope this is a terrific week for you! But if you’re in the middle of a trifecta of trials, hang in there. Remember that Jesus promised to be with each one of us . . . and that means Christ walks with YOU today! (Matthew 28:20) In love, grace, confidence, and friendship with our Lord, keep on walking through your current challenges into the wonderful future our Lord has prepared for all of us.

In Christ’s hope,

Pastor Fritz

Questions for Reflection:

  1. When you hit troubled times, how do you keep from despair?
  2. What’s your favorite Bible verse that encourages you? Do you have it memorized so you can take it with you wherever you go?
  3. How do you support others in their various trifectas of tribulation? How do you acknowledge their worry, pain, and grief along with providing a bit of hope and encouragement? What’s your strategy?

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, it’s no fun when deer jump in front of our cars or storms turn our umbrellas inside out. It’s no fun when we get low in energy and outlook. So, refresh us, renew us, lead us. And since healthy outlooks resist too much navel-gazing, as we pray for ourselves, we simultaneously pray for the health of our families, enemies, and the thriving of your whole creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.