We all know trouble can be bad news. If you’re caught in a war zone, or facing a personal crisis, it’s the kind of trouble you’d give anything to avoid. But there’s another kind of trouble—good trouble—that shakes us awake, breaks the rut, and gets us moving again.
Many of us aren’t in a literal trench, but we can feel dug in emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. We might have a good job, a loving family, a strong church community—and yet, something feels missing. Life feels… flat.
Jesus says in Luke 6:38:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over…”
That “shaken together” part? That’s holy trouble. It’s God’s way of saying, if you want to be full to overflowing, you need to step beyond your current comfort zone.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your spiritual life is to cause a disturbance—not in a destructive way, but in a way that shakes up your own habits and opens doors for God to move. If you’re at peace but restless, secure but spiritually numb—it’s time to trouble your world.
I think of John Payne, a friend who spends time in prisons sharing the Gospel with inmates. He could have stayed in the safety of everyday life, but instead he chose to enter a place most people avoid, just to bring hope to those who need it. That’s what holy trouble looks like.
In Acts 17:6, Paul and his companions are accused of being men “who have caused trouble all over the world.” The word used—anastatoō—means to disturb, unsettle, stir up. And honestly, many of us need that kind of disturbance in our faith.
So how do we trouble our world?
Go – Step out of your regular routine and into places where God can use you.
Gather – Build connections with people who don’t yet know Jesus.
Speak – Share your story, your faith, your hope.
You don’t have to be a preacher to do this. You could start by inviting a friend to church, joining a community outreach event, or simply living differently at work so others ask what makes you stand out.
The truth is, most people around us are hungry for authenticity. They’re not looking for perfect Christians; they’re looking for real people with real faith who live in a way that makes others curious.
This week, ask yourself:
Where is my life too comfortable?
Who could I reach out to?
What’s one step I can take to disturb my routine for God’s purposes?
Don’t wait until boredom becomes burnout. Create some holy trouble. Step out of the trench. Give God room to fill your life with something new.
For help and enquiries please contact…
[email protected]
100 Church Road
Gatley
SK8 4NQ
