What's the Problem?

Whenever we visit a doctor or counselor, we often go through the perfunctory greetings and chit chats, but pretty soon the real question emerges, "What's the problem?"  Even when we get a massage, the massage therapist will ask us about any "problem" areas that might need special attention.

We understand that no matter how healthy we eat, how much we exercise, or how much we try to care for ourselves, at some point, we will run into a problem that requires professional assistance.  When we allow Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives, for some reason, some of us think that all of our problems will automatically disappear.  Our knowledge and application of God's Word in our lives will give us renewed minds and strength to help us to have less problems or perhaps different problems, but in no way are we guaranteed a problem-free life on this side of glory. 

In fact, Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

A recent devotional reading from The Word for You Today included a quote from Dr. Theodore Rubin that explained, "The problem is not that there are problems, it's expecting otherwise; it's thinking that having problems is the problem!" 

When we measure our Christianity by the wrong standard, we think that saved folk aren't supposed to have or encounter any problems.  We especially think that preachers and pastors are not supposed to have any problems.  But, we forget that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 

For example, I had hoped that my idiosyncracies and my impulsive responses to others' idiosyncracies would disappear once I accepted the call to ministry.  Both have greatly improved and are steadily improving, but not gone.  So, I continue to "press toward the mark" as I allow the Holy Spirit to transform me daily for the Kingdom's sake.

Whether the problems we encounter in life are those that we created or those that come our way, we cannot use them as an excuse for not "studying to show ourselves approved" by God who has charged us as followers of Christ to the work of "confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

Also, we can't allow problems to shake our faith in God or in ourselves as Christians, for God challenges us to "...glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience..."(Romans 5:3)  God may not cause problems to occur in our lives, but if He allows them to occur, it must be for the good.

So, the next time we encounter a problem, let's remember that having problems is not the problem.  The issue is our response to problems.  When we allow our problems to draw us closer to God, the author and finisher of our faith, we learn to trust Him through our problems.  When we recognize that God still loves and uses us in spite of our problems we'll stop holding on to our problems and turn them over to God, the only one who can solve them. 

Once we've turned our problems over to God, in a sense, we don't have them anymore, God does.  So... if everytime we look at our problems we see God at work in them...what's the problem?

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen