Problem: October 25, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013.

PROBLEM

DEFINITION:

A source of distress, vexation or perplexity. Any question or matter involving doubt; uncertainty or difficulty; a question proposed for solution.

SCRIPTURE:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (problems), knowing that testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In life today everyone seems to be constantly talking about the problems they are facing. Many just think that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Problems weigh on us even to the extent they can make us ill. Possibly the problems you face today include issues with the economy, your career or your family.

Do you have problems in your life? If you hear someone answer "NO" to that question, you can be certain that they are in denial. Problems are part of living in a sinful world. Everyone has problems at one time or another. James doesn't say "IF" you fall into trials, he says "WHEN" you have trials. (Verse above)

The book of First Peter is the letter that Peter wrote to encourage believers who were going through trials. Peter calls problems trials in I Peter 1:6-7 where he says: "So be truly glad, there is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while." Trials test how genuine and how strong our faith really is.

Peter goes on to say that trials test our faith like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Just as gold is made more valuable when it is put through fire, we are made more valuable to God because we are strengthened by the problems and trials we go through.  When your faith remains strong through trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

Also in I Peter 4:12, Peter says: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening with you." People often ask: "Why is this happening to me?" when they have a problem. Peter warns us to expect problems or as he calls them trials.

God allows us to have problems to test and refine our faith. Problems come in many forms and each one brings pain, anguish, stress and worry. How we cope with problems depends a great deal on our attitude.

In our family we say that we never have problems. They are only situations. Situations seem to be more solvable than problems. They are solvable if we seek the Lord's help.

We urge you to get our book, "NO PROBLEMS ONLY SITUATIONS!" by going to our website www.thehungersolution.org and read what we have written.

Trials are for a little while and Peter reminds us not to let problems (situations) rob us of our joy. God is faithful and will reward us with His gift of eternal life. God uses situations to bring us closer to Him. He wants us to bring our situations to Him and then ask Him for help. He will respond.

We need to do several things according to the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison (Philippians 4:6-7 above).  First, we need to admit that we have a problem. Then we need to turn that problem into a prayer. We need to face the problem straight on and do not let it linger.

When we turn it over to God in prayer, He will go through the problem with us and He will give us strength to endure the problem. He will use the problem to strengthen our faith and to give us peace that is beyond our understanding. Remember problems are not God's fault and there is no limit as to what God can do in solving your problem, if you turn it over to Him.

We had the privilege of coordinating a convention for over 1000 former Youth for Christ leaders in October of 1988 in Chicago. We took with us two secretaries to assist in all of the convention details. One was our daughter and the other Ken's personal secretary. On the first day we had several problems, some that seemed insurmountable. We all felt stressed. The four of us sat down and agreed that from that moment on we had no problems, just situations. That one conversation changed our attitude and put things into perspective. Problems can seem insurmountable and overwhelm us. Reducing them down to just situations encourages us so that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We went forward with a smooth running and most successful God honoring convention. What we did was to turn everything over to the Lord and He got us through each situation

In life we also learn that we are to attack problems not people. Every day each of us face problems in life. Unfortunately, we somehow divert the problem to a person. We need to learn to let go of our problems and let God take care of them. So many times when we try to solve a problem without thinking it through, we cause greater problems. We have learned to pray every day for God to take care of SITUATIONS that we may face before they become a PROBLEM.

LEARNING: 

Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.

PRAYER:

Help me today to face life with an attitude of wanting to please You in all that I do. Thank You for your promise to never leave me nor forsake me, so that I am assured that as I go through a problem You are going through that problem with me. Use my problems to strengthen my faith so that I can glorify Your name in all that I do.