Be Thankful for the Problems

Life is full of problems but every problem has a solution. You just may have to search harder for solutions to some than others.  How you look at your problems determines how they are going to affect your life.

If you look at your problems as punishments then you are already defeated.  Your problem has already won the battle and you have not enriched your life from this problem one iota. You have the negative and defeated attitude and the battle is already lost.

If you face the problem as a challenge and know that good is going to come from it somehow then you have already defeated the problem.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.”

~Romans 8:28~

There is good that can come out of any situation if we look hard enough.  It may not come immediately but eventually you will see what good has come from the challenge.  You will be able to look back and say now I see why that had to happen and I am so thankful that it did because otherwise this good would never have came to pass. 

It takes these challenges or problems to open our eyes many times to other things in life that are more important but we are not seeing them because we are not looking past the problem. It takes focusing on God and looking beyond the problem is what it takes to get us through many challenges.

We are not promised a life of only good things happening to us we are promised that even through the bad things; such as, death, jail, disease, financial ruin, etc; we are promised that good will come from all of this to those who love and depend on God.

Our having these problems or challenges only makes the good things in our life better.  We tend to appreciate the good things so much more because of the challenges that are entwined in our lives.  We take the good with the bad knowing and trusting God is going to get us through.  Trusting that we will become a much better and more mature Christian through these trials and tribulations is using our faith as God intended.

Each challenge or trial that we face will pass. I did not say it will instantly be over with and done. No, there is no time limit on it only God’s time and His time is nothing compared to ours if you have not learned that yet. In God’s time the trial will be over and if we have depended on God and let God lead us through it there will be good that we see through the tribulations and we will be a better person for it.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,

consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

James 1:2-4

So when we are faced with trials, tribulations, problems, challenges, hardships or whatever you want to call it; count it joy! Thanks God for these problems!  Praise His Holy Name for these challenges! I can hear you now, you are saying, ”Are you crazy? When I am facing a disease; death in the family; my family is falling apart; bankruptcy; addiction; whatever the challenge and you are telling me to be thankful!” Let’s read James 1:2-4 again. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”James 1:2-4.  That is what it says, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy…” Yes, because you know you are going to learn from this experience and grow into a better Christian. God is not promising it is going to be easy. He is not saying it is going to be “a piece of cake.” He is saying,

“With God, nothing is impossible.” ~ Luke 1:37

This is saying no matter how hard the trials seem you can make it through it. How? “With God...” You are not alone in this matter,

“… because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

~Hebrews 13:5~

God will always be there with you. It is you that has to depend on Him and let Him help you through each crisis. Let Him carry you when you feel you can no long take another step. When you feel you can walk a while, then let Him hold your hand and guide you in the way He wants you to go.
Go through each trial, tribulation, crisis, hardship with the attitude God has intended for us to have and the challenge will not be near as bad and we will make it through it and see the good that has come from this problem.

“Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

~I Thessalonians 5:18~