The Uniquely Positive Role of Problems In Our Lives
Problems have gotten a bad rap. We live in a problem obsessed culture. Many people are preoccupied with how to avoid them. If that’s not possible they think the next best thing is to figure out how to overcome them. We think about them so much people wax eloquent about them. Here is a site with hundreds of pithy quotes about problems. One such quote that sums up this paragraph is
If you are in the midst of a problem right now did reading that quote make you feel better? Probably not. This quote simply points to the reality of problems as a part of our lives. We should expect them.
From a biblical perspective the second step is to reframe the problem. We need to look at them differently. You may be thinking “Don’t give me the glass half full versus half empty speech.” I won’t. What I do want to do is give you a different perspective on God and our problems.
[Tweet “The Father uses every problem in our life as a parenting event to make us more like Jesus”]
Romans 5:3-5 tells us to view our problems differently because God loves us. The Apostle Paul says we should boast about our problems because of how God uses them in our lives. Let’s see if we can reframe the issue of our problems with God as part of every problem we face.
Reframing our Problems With God’s Involvement
- God is in control. There’s not one problem in your life that’s outside of His control Isaiah 30:20. Even adversity comes from Him.[Tweet “The problem you had today didn’t surprise God”]
- God’s love constrains our problems. He won’t let us endure more than we can handle 1 Corinthians 10:13.
- God is with us. We are never alone with our problems Hebrews 13:5. [Tweet “The Father’s love can be felt in the midst of any problem we have”]
- God uses every problem to make us more like Jesus. If we trust God through it we grow James 1:2-4.
- God doesn’t follow our expectations with problems Romans 11:33-34. At times God allows things that are beyond our ability to fathom. If we think we’ve got God figured out, we are flat out wrong.
[Tweet “Our goal isn’t just seeing our problems differently but seeing God with us when we have a problem”]
Paul says we should boast in our problems because as a loved child of God we’re part of His divine plan. It’s not that things will be okay. Things are okay now. Often the biggest issue is not the problem but fear, discouragement or uncertainty when we are going through it. Understanding that God holds us in His loving arms replaces those feelings with comfort and peace. That’s something to boast about.
What has God taught you through a problem you didn’t think you could endure? Please leave a comment or question below.
