I Accepted Christ: Now What?عينة

## Persistent Trouble Returning home from a vacation is always something of a letdown. Even if you love where you live, regular life just can’t compare. As soon as we walk in the door, we’re faced with things to do: unpack the suitcase, start a load of laundry, check the mail, make a grocery list, and, oh yeah, go back to work. We might have had the most amazing experiences of our lives, swimming with dolphins or watching the Northern lights, but eventually, reality comes calling. It’s like the rest of the world didn’t get the memo. Jesus’ disciples saw Him feed thousands, heal the sick, raise the dead, and tell storms to quiet down. They must have felt pretty invincible standing next to him. Maybe they thought they were on the cusp of seeing all their problems evaporate. But instead of promising a vacation-like life, Jesus told them the opposite: You will have trouble. As a follower of Christ, you might be a new creation, but the rest of the world isn’t. You may find you still have no idea how to pay your bills, solve the conflict with your boss, get through to your kids, or restore your marriage. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make all your problems evaporate, but it does give you the ability to face those problems differently. Sure, you might still get a little wet by the storm, but with Jesus at your side, you’ll be OK. What difficult situations do you wish Jesus would eliminate from your life? If nothing changes, what about who Jesus is, can give you peace?