When the apostle Paul found himself in a potentially fearful situation, he didn’t see it as a problem. Instead, he saw it as God’s divine appointment for his life. The best view to face problems is to see them as opportunities to exercise faith, to practice trusting the Lord, to prove God’s great faithfulness, and to be proved by Him. Your faith is made stronger when you work together with the Lord to find solutions to life’s problems. He does have the right solution for every problem!
James 1:5-8(TLB) If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; He will not resent it. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way, and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.
An approach to solving problems:
- Identify the source of the problem. Obtain all the facts.
Proverbs 18:13(TLB) What a shame – yes, how stupid! – to decide before knowing the facts!
Proverbs 18:17(TLB) Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.
“A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on.” – CS Lewis
“If your only tool is a hammer then every problem looks like a nail.” – Abraham Maslow - Commit your problem to God.
1 Peter 5:7(ESV) casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - Consider all the possible solutions
Proverbs 18:15(TLB) The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them. - Consider the consequence. What impact will it have.
Luke 14:28-30(MSG) “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ - Get the input of wise people.
Proverbs 12:15(ESV) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 11:14 (AMP) Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counsellors there is victory.
Proverbs 11:14 (MSG) Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” – Albert Einstein - Act and take a decision.
Job 22:27-28 (AMP) You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, And you will pay your vows. You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways. - Evaluate the results and take appropriate action.
2 Corinthians 13:5(ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
I conclude with “You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.” – Edwin Louis Cole