I haven’t experienced a lot of big problems. I have had it pretty good in my life, but I know people who can’t seem to go a month without something happening that could only happen top them and two other people in the world.
Two guys from the bible can teach us how to deal with our problems. I picked Job (Pronounced with a long “O”) from the old testament and Paul from the new. Two really great guys, but both had problems and dealt with them admirably.
So What Did I Learn?
1.Everybody has problems
Job was known as the greatest man in the east. Paul wrote most of the new testament. These were two really great and impressive guys that loved God, and they still had problem.
Mary Tyler Moore said this, “None of us get out of here without pain.” She was divorced three times, lost her sister to drugs, and son to suicide, was addicted to alcohol, is going blind because of the diabetes caused by alcohol abuse.
Moore has also won six Emmy’s and a Tony award. But she knows what it is like to experience great pain.
2.We can’t always understand why in the middle of the problem.
We can not understand why we are going through what we are while we are going through it. Once we get on the other side of the problem we gain insight that we could never have in the middle of it. Once Job had gotten through his pain he was able to see that God was in control, and he got his life back plus many times more.
3.Satan will whisper things in our ear to draw us away from God.
Job had three friends that blamed him for what was going on. They were not the counsel Job needed because they had no perspective of the situation. Get people around you that you can trust.
4.Our Problem can draw us closer to God.
Notice I said “can”. If we are willing to seek him out and trust him during our problems he will come closer to us and walk us through it.
So how can we seek God in our consistent problems
1.See it for what it really is
This is not something that will last forever.
2.Learn to give thanks.
2 Corinthians 1:3-6 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. 4 He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. 5 We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives.6 We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours.
If there is something in our lives we can not include in thanksgiving, the Devil has found a way in. Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
3.Learn To Rely on God
2 Corinthians 1:9 -10 we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. 10 God saved us from the threat of death, and we are sure that he will do it again and again.
When we learn to rely on God we begin to grow and mature. We stop focusing on ourselves, and what we want, and we begin to focus on others and what they need. You see the more I focus on God, the more he helps me love others.
Job Suffered, Paul Suffered, but God allowed this suffering so that He could have more of each man. He wants all of you, not just a little part on Sunday.
If you are enjoying a time of blessing right now, don’t fear the suffering. Don’t stress always looking for the next problem. Learn to rely on God even in the Good times.
If you are suffering right now, know that an end will come. Use this time to rely on him even more.
He Never said it was going to be easy John 16:33. But He Did say He was always there for us Matthew 11:28-30
Ask him to show you that grace.
Just be honest with him, and he will be honest with you.
Image used under cc2.0 license from flickr user peregrinari
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