It begins like this: “When in the Course of human events….” Those are the opening words of the Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776. As I took some time this morning to read the Declaration, I kept coming back to that first line and that phrase “the course of human events.”  The colonies faced some difficult times in their “course of human events,” which led to the Declaration and more extremely difficult times, including war.  Those days shaped Thomas Paine’s famous words, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” And it occurred to me that we, too, face times that try our souls in our own “course of human events,” don’t we? It’s been that way since the “course of human events” began with Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden. In the Old Testament Job stated, “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” In the New Testament our Lord told us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” So, how has your “course of human events” been going lately? Going through your own personal war with difficult and tyrannical circumstances? Take the advice of our Founding Fathers and do what they did.  As they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, they did so “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.” They looked heavenward for help. Better yet, take the advice of the Scripture in Isaiah 26:3-4. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” God saw those thirteen original colonies through the dark days and opened the door to freedom. He can do the same for you and me!