IN TROUBLE
by Jeremy Chance Springfield
6/1/2026
Man walks through this world in the unwanted company of woe. From the looming threat of suffering we have no assurance of escape. Eventually, to some degree or another, the uncomfortable reality of this troubled world will have a negative impact upon our lives. It is a bitter reality affecting all people.
We must be honest and face the facts: life is unpredictable and tending to adversity. Through poor decisions and willful rebellion we bring more than our fair share into the world. The curse of sin affects every atom, invading every element with a destructive force.
We must be honest and face the facts: life is unpredictable and tending to adversity. Through poor decisions and willful rebellion we bring more than our fair share into the world. The curse of sin affects every atom, invading every element with a destructive force.
Even the best of us is not immune from the unforeseen sorrows bleeding dismay into our days. The words of Job in Job 14:1 admitted the harsh truth so long ago that unfortunately resonates just as strongly in modern times.
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Man, born of woman, is few of days and full of affliction.
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We underestimate just how fragile joy is in our lives. It is robbed from man without distinction: the tendrils of trouble impede the path of the best and worst of us alike. The ability to strangle even the most faithful of hearts with despair is the terrible strength of the troubles imposing themselves upon our lives. We cannot deny or downplay the interruption and anguish that overrun the flimsy fictions of peace we have imagined we control.
It is understandable to be burdened by the bluntness of such news, yet true hope exists in the midst of all the impending misfortune. The words Yeshua uttered just hours before his own profound period of suffering—recorded in John 16:33—offer an encouragement rising above life’s unpleasant present trials.
It is understandable to be burdened by the bluntness of such news, yet true hope exists in the midst of all the impending misfortune. The words Yeshua uttered just hours before his own profound period of suffering—recorded in John 16:33—offer an encouragement rising above life’s unpleasant present trials.
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“…In the world you shall have trouble, but you must take heart! I have overcome the world!” |
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Without softening the blow of such sorrows, Yeshua offers a hope to carry us through them. Yes, difficulties will arise, yet they are but impermanent problems that will one day meet their end by the merit of the Messiah. In this way, these troubles remind us to maintain our focus on the One who seeks our heart.
Therefore, in moments of trial and desperation, let us listen for the voice of the Spirit encouraging us to hold on. He uses those hard times to speak to us in a special way. Such is the expression recorded in Hosea 2:16-17 (verses 14-15 in most English versions).
Therefore, in moments of trial and desperation, let us listen for the voice of the Spirit encouraging us to hold on. He uses those hard times to speak to us in a special way. Such is the expression recorded in Hosea 2:16-17 (verses 14-15 in most English versions).
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14 Therefore, see! I shall seduce her, and I shall bring her [to] the wilderness, and I shall speak to her heart.
15 And I shall give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as the days of her youth, and as the day she ascended from [the] land of Mitzrayim. |
The Creator offers a compelling promise to His people who are buffeted by sins and the times of disquiet in this world. In each life will come seasons of uncertainty and isolation. It may feel like we are being betrothed to malevolence, yet it is instead a divinely orchestrated road to revealing the Holy One’s care for us even in the middle of hard times. The Holy One allures us to all that awaits in His Kingdom if we will turn to Him, recognizing that a way out of this present pain exists if we will maintain our focus on His Presence in the moment of it all.
This idea is embedded in the text with the phrase “Valley of Achor.” The Hebrew term ACHOR literally means “trouble.”
Times of trouble are unwanted, of course. They may feel like we are wandering in a wilderness, lost and frantic to be found. Yet, in them is the entrance to the holy place where our Creator seeks our attention and desires to give us an inheritance of everlasting goodness.
These afflictions come not to extinguish, but to equip us with the right heart so that we can follow Him faithfully through every change in life. This is seen in the above passage in that the “Valley of Achor” is first mentioned in Scripture as the precipitous site where a man named Achan and his household were punished for their flagrant sin of harboring forbidden treasures.
These afflictions come not to extinguish, but to equip us with the right heart so that we can follow Him faithfully through every change in life. This is seen in the above passage in that the “Valley of Achor” is first mentioned in Scripture as the precipitous site where a man named Achan and his household were punished for their flagrant sin of harboring forbidden treasures.
The shameful event is found in the lengthy account of the siege against Jericho and the unfortunate aftermath of judgment against Israel, recorded in Joshua chapters 6 & 7, and which culminated in that valley in 7:24-26.
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24 And Yehoshua took Achan, son of Zerach, and the silver, and the garment, and the tongue of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkey, and his flock, and his tent, and all which was his—and all Yisra’el was with him—and they took them into [the] Valley of Achor.
25 And Yehoshua said, “Why did you trouble us? YHWH shall trouble you on this day!” And all Yisra’el heaped upon him [the] stone, and they burned them in fire, and they executed-by-stoning them with stones. 26 And they raised upon him a great heap of stones—unto this very day. And YHWH turned from the wrath of His anger. Concerning such [the] name of that place is [the] Valley of Achor unto this very day. |
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The account is difficult to read—a sobering portrait of just how intimately connected are our deeds to the spiritual well-being of others. Indeed, the gravity of Achan’s sin was such that his name was later altered in the Scriptural text as a testament of his crime, as seen in 1st Chronicles 2:7.
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And the sons of Karmi: Achar, the Troubler of Yisra’el—who transgressed with the banned object.
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Written centuries after the sin, Achan’s action was memorialized not only in the name of the valley, but his own name altered to reflect the poor choice and the horror he brought upon Israel. His legacy is to this day a memorial of the brutal turmoil ushered into our lives by giving in to sin.
However, we must also remember that all troubles are intended to reorient our gaze upon the One who has called us to live for Him no matter what happens, knowing that His Messiah will eventually cause creation to be mended through merit unmatched. The prophet Hosea was to tell the people of Israel that the difficult situations could become a "Door of Hope" leading to a better inheritance than the trying time they were experiencing. That greater hope is infused in the very inheritance of Judah, as seen in the listed landmarks for the tribal borders that are preserved in Joshua 15:7.
However, we must also remember that all troubles are intended to reorient our gaze upon the One who has called us to live for Him no matter what happens, knowing that His Messiah will eventually cause creation to be mended through merit unmatched. The prophet Hosea was to tell the people of Israel that the difficult situations could become a "Door of Hope" leading to a better inheritance than the trying time they were experiencing. That greater hope is infused in the very inheritance of Judah, as seen in the listed landmarks for the tribal borders that are preserved in Joshua 15:7.
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And the border ascended unto Devir from [the] Valley of Achor, and at its northernmost it faced toward the Gilgal, which is before the ascent of Adummim, which is south of the river. And the border passed to [the] waters of Ein Shemesh, and the going forth of it were at Ein Rogel.
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These landmarks hold a deeper significance than just physical locations defining borders. Rather, they exemplify the spiritual borders of the believer’s experience and inheritance of faith. This begins to be seen in that once more, the Valley of Achor makes an appearance in the Scriptural text. This is not insignificant. Note that the Hebrew text links that valley as reaching DEVIRAH “unto Devir.” The term DEVIR literally means “speaking place.”
DEVIR as an area of land is directly connected to the Valley of Achor—the Valley of Trouble. Therefore, the purpose of trouble is to lead us to hearing a message. The usage of this term DEVIR is of importance, as it is curiously found in 1st Kings 6:16 as the name for a very special place in the Temple.
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…for the DEVIR—for the Holy of Holies. |
Some translations will render DEVIR as “Oracle,” which might be slightly ambiguous, but the reality is simply that it is the site where the Spirit speaks. We therefore discern from this that those times of “trouble”—ACHOR—are an opportunity for the Creator to speak to us as if we were as close to Him as the Holy of Holies.
The text tells us this place of trouble and communication “faced towards the Gilgal.” This term HAGILGAL means “the wheel” or “the turning point.”
The idea thus develops that troubles become a turning point for the believer where we can listen to the Creator and find hope for a better future. We may indeed feel like we are on repeat—going around in circles in life, until we finally perceive the truth of what it is all about: we need to listen to the voice of the Spirit.
The significance of these border names is reinforced in Joshua 15:7 in that it says Gilgal is “before the ascent of Adummim.” The Hebrew term ADUMMIM is the plural form of ADAM “man.” Essentially, it means "mankind."
The significance of these border names is reinforced in Joshua 15:7 in that it says Gilgal is “before the ascent of Adummim.” The Hebrew term ADUMMIM is the plural form of ADAM “man.” Essentially, it means "mankind."
The implication is that mankind must face afflictions before we are spiritually elevated. We cannot realistically expect to rise without being proven as legitimate in our faith. Once we persevere through the problems, however, we know for a truth that the connection to the One within us will carry us forward through it all.
This is expressed in the words of Paul and his companions in Acts 14:21-22.
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21 And when they had declared to the sons of the city, they taught many. And returning, they came to the city Lustra, and to Iqanian, and to Antiyachiya, 22 while establishing the souls of the students, and beseeching from them to stand fast in the faith. And they spoke to them that in many troubles it was fitting to enter the Kingdom of the Deity. |
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The Messianic agenda of the apostles included edifying all the Jews and Gentiles who were trusting in Yeshua as the fulfillment of the promise made so long ago. The rejection of his role by fellow Jews and the hostility inevitable in it from the Roman Empire meant that his followers felt the afflictions from both sides. Enduring it was not easy, but it was vital to overcome to inherit the greater reward that awaited in a Kingdom far superior to the Roman Empire.
Amazingly, this truth about the purpose of our redemption is realized in the names of the three cities in which they encouraged the believers.
The very names of the places they offered edification to endure miraculously proclaim the situation of every believer: We are ransomed by the image of the Holy One—the idealized Messiah—and so we must be unwavering in all the troubles that rise against us so that we can hope for what is to come.
Paul later wrote about having peace amidst all the tumult of life in Romans 5:1-5.
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1 On account, therefore, that we are made right by trust, we have peace with the Deity by our Master, Yeshua the Messiah. 2 And by him we have been brought near by faith to this goodness in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of the Deity. 3 And not thus only, but also in troubles we boast, as we know that trouble perfects patience in us, 4 and patience—proof, and proof—hope. 5 Yet hope is not shameful, on account that the love of the Deity is poured upon our hearts by the Spirit of Holiness, who is given to us. |
Note the link in the above to EIN SHEMESH and EIN ROGEL—“Well of the Sun” and “Well of the Walk.”
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This links to the reality that we have been “brought near” by the Messiah to a goodness that abides beyond the temporary troubles. We thus “walk” while immersed in a truth that goes deeper than the surface-level problems we face. Additionally, Paul writes that we “boast” in the hope we have. This Aramaic term is a conjugation of BAHAR and literally means “shine.”
We are thus reflecting the light like the sun from a source that doesn’t depend on a physical light, but “bubbles up” from beneath.
This ability to carry on even in the worst of times is all because of His Presence in our lives. We cannot endure on our own. Without His power pushing us forward, we would eventually succumb to the weight of the world’s burdens. Scripture proclaims the reliability of the efficacious act of His Spirit in our lives so beautifully in Psalm 46:1.
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[The] Deity is for us a refuge and a strength; a help in troubles to be greatly found!
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It is with these truths equipped in our hearts that we can endure the adversities that arrive in life. Paul addressed the situation of suffering and suggested that it is all being orchestrated for a higher goal in Romans 8:28-29.
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28 Yet, we know that those who love the Deity, in every thing He helps them for the good—for those whom he previously appointed to be called. 29 And from before He knew them, and designated them in the likeness of the image of His Son, that he should be the Firstborn of many brothers. |
Regardless of why trouble may be present in our lives, we are called to look beyond the moment of misfortune and to the One who ransomed us for a greater purpose. This is the hope we must hold onto that will carry us past the passing unpleasantness and into the coming glory.
Even in the aftermath of adversity His power and purpose still stand. Regardless of how thoroughly destructive the troubles may seem, regardless of how small what remains might be, He still finds value amidst the unlikeliest of places, and from that brings a yield unimagined in our minds. For this reason, we hope in His goodness to inherit the eternal borders defined in our faith.
Even in the aftermath of adversity His power and purpose still stand. Regardless of how thoroughly destructive the troubles may seem, regardless of how small what remains might be, He still finds value amidst the unlikeliest of places, and from that brings a yield unimagined in our minds. For this reason, we hope in His goodness to inherit the eternal borders defined in our faith.
The words of Isaiah 65:8-10 provide a beautiful and fitting end to the study.
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8 Thus says YHWH: “As is found the new wine in the grape-cluster, and it is said, ‘Do not destroy it!’—for a blessing is in it—so shall I do on account of My servants, to not destroy the entirety.
9 And I shall bring forth from Ya’akov a seed, and from Yehudah an inheritor of My mountains, and My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there. 10 And the Sharon shall be for a habitation of [the] flock, and [the] Valley of Achor for the repose of a herd—for My people who have sought Me.” |
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The trials of life are serious, and the scars left from them very real. The damage done to a soul may even be breathtakingly savage. Even so, the One who has called us to hope knows that a future awaits those who persevere through the pain. That future holds a healing no balm in this world can offer. From the hope of that inconceivable inheritance the believer must not waver.
Whatever trial the day delivers, the believer is encouraged to endure. Yeshua is our sure beacon in every uncomfortable moment. The Messiah overcame the stifling adversity that wields a tyrant grip over every passing second, and he now so graciously offers the reward of the victory he earned to anyone who will cling to him. Let us walk the path laid before us, knowing that the unpredictability of life could have us tread the heady ascent of Adummim or slog through the depths of the Valley of Achor at any given time. Be it in blessing or in trouble, we follow faithfully onwards to the glorious borders of our Creator’s coming Kingdom.
All study contents Copyright Jeremy Chance Springfield, except for graphics and images, which are Copyright their respective creators.