How to Misread Your Troubles

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 28:22-27

Problems have a way of getting our attention. Pain lets us know that all is not right in our world. Trouble can take us in a good or bad direction. It depends on what we do with it, how we react to it, and how we read or misread the situation. King Ahaz was in a time of distress and he misread the underlying causes of his trials.

Ahaz thought things were bad because he wasn’t idolatrous enough. He misread the signs and turned, not toward, but away from the Lord. He became more entrenched and committed to idolatry. He hoped the false gods of the kings of Syria would help him. He went all-in on idolatry. He misread the problem, came to a conclusion opposite of what he should have and brought further heartache to his life.

Don’t waste your sorrow.