“Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all,” Psalm 34:19.

Saturday evening, I almost became a Baptist! Yeah, I was going under, immersed in watery woes.

Colleen & I had just returned from a two-week Shepherding tour to find we had a water leak under our kitchen sink. Wow, what damage a little dripping can do!

Warped wood floors and kitchen cabinets, wet lower level ceiling and lighting fixtures, wet carpets and pads, all make for an unexpected and unwelcome greeting. What a wealth of sermon illustrations this will produce.

For now, let me share the most vital: keep your trials in perspective. Earlier on Saturday, we had visited three precious friends, who are spending time at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN. They discovered little four-year-old Madison suffered with a malignant brain tumor. Praise God 90% plus was successfully removed. A little four-year-old and her parents have lots of other trials mixed in with this anxiety. Added to them is the reality that she and her parents will be facing chemo and radiation treatments. In comparison, a little water damage is hardly worth mentioning.

In either case, the Good News is this; God will not allow your head to go under. No matter how deep the trial, His grace is deeper still. He will up hold you.

By the way the following are truths we’re learning:
1. Trials come to everyone. Yes, Erika, your dad is not exempt. Thanks for feeling he should be.
2. Trials come in different sizes and intensity.
3. Trials never come at a good time.
4. God cares and gives His grace for any trial we face.
5. Friends who skip Saturday night dessert to vacuum water are true friends. Thanks Clint & Lana.
6. Having a Christian insurance agent is a blessing.
7. Yes, Colleen, you can cook dinner without a kitchen sink.