Problems

Maybe like me, after you lost your spouse you found yourself faced with problems. Examples that challenged me included:

• • Buying groceries
  • Doing laundry and folding sheets
  • Insurance claims
  • Medical bills
  • Car titles
  • House deeds
  • Claiming her small retirement account
  • Changing the names on checking accounts
  • Getting utilities that were in her name placed in my name
  • Paying bills – my late wife had managed the household finances.
  • And more …

Are you facing problems in your personal life, business life, family life, relationship life, creative life, spiritual life? Maybe you’re facing similar tasks.

Opportunities

We need to realize that life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you. It all depends on how you respond to them.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” states Romans 8:28.

1. God Uses Problems to Direct You – Proverbs 20:30.

Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Proverbs 20:30

Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.

Ask God what He is trying to tell you from this.

Get help from your adult children, if necessary. Let them know the challenges you are facing.

2. God Uses Problems to Inspect You – James 1:2-3.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. — James 1:2-3

When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this test will give you patience.

Caution! Too much self-analysis is dangerous! It leads to “why me Lord syndrome”.

3. God Uses Problems to Correct You – Psalm 119:71-72.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. — Psalm 119:71-72

The verse teaches that tough times was the best thing that could have happened to the Psalmist, for it taught him to pay attention to God’s laws. Maybe for you, like it was for me, you’ll find yourself crying out to the Lord for His help and guidance.

4. God Uses Problems to Protect You – Genesis 50:20.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. — Genesis 50:20

You may find yourself being taken advantage of by not so well meaning people. They may attempt to use your grief for their benefit. I encountered a few instances when people did just  that. They intended to harm me. It caused my “radar” or “force field” to go up. I like to feel that GOd allowed this to get me to trust God and depend more on Him. As it says in Genesis – they meant it for evil, but God intended it for good.

5. God Uses Problems to Perfect You – Romans 5:3-4.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  — Romans 5:3-4

We can rejoice when we run into problems … they help us learn to be patient.

And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.

Conclusion:

Problems when responded to correctly are character builders.

God is interested more in our character than in our comfort.

You relationship with God and your character are the only things you will take with you into eternity see Romans 5:3-4.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” Romans 5:3-4 ESV

God wants to make changes in your life where you can make a difference!