Ed Greer was a man who hated his life. He was unhappy with work. He felt that he was too pressured by his spouse. So, one day Greer decided to check out. And he just disappeared.
His spouse and family searched and searched for him, but they couldn't locate him. Greer crossed the country and decided to live on the beaches of Florida. Later, he assumed a new identity and moved to central Texas and found himself a good paying job.
Finally, after searching for seven years, the FBI found Ed Greer. In an interview, when asked why he bailed out on family and friends, Greer explained, "I felt trapped. I didn't like my life."
There are times in our lives when circumstances become so trying that we'd be quite glad to trade places with almost anyone. The apostle Paul would have been more than justified to have bemoaned his luck and pray for a new and easier assignment.
Take a look at Acts 16:25: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." Now backtrack and read verses 16-24 in your Bible. What man, having been unfairly accused and unjustly flogged and beaten, finds himself able to have a worship service of praise to God in a jail cell?
The man who trusts in the Lord, that's who!
Perhaps Paul remembered the words of the Proverb: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Your Lord is an ever-present help in times of trouble. Paul trusted, was helped by God, and was even used to help bring a family to saving faith in the risen Lord (see Acts, chapter 16). God will help you too. Trust Him.
