Problems can be split into two groups:
1. The time and place you were born.
You cannot switch centuries, no matter how much you wish you lived in the future.
You cannot switch your heritage, nor your parents.
Some people live under despotic regimes or have sadistic parents… these serious problems can only be changed if, as an adult, you are able to escape.
2. Your basic biology.
You cannot change your height,
your chromosomes,
some genetic illnesses and disabilities.
3. Other people.
4. Nature.
Where does God fit in?
Are you prepared?
Are you ready for God’s presence in your life?
Do you worship and adore God?
Do you follow God’s will?
Or do you only pray to him in times of strife?
Do you only turn to God when you really, really need him and you have exhausted every other avenue?
“AT THAT TIME THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL BE LIKE TEN VIRGINS WHO TOOK THEIR LAMPS AND WENT OUT TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM. FIVE OF THEM WERE FOOLISH AND FIVE OF THEM WERE WISE. THE FOOLISH ONES TOOK THEIR LAMPS BUT DID NOT TAKE ANY OIL WITH THEM. THE WISE ONES, HOWEVER, TOOK OIL IN JARS ALONG WITH THEIR LAMPS. THE BRIDEGROOM WAS A LONG TIME IN COMING, AND THEY ALL BECAME DROWSY AND FELL ASLEEP. AT MIDNIGHT THE CRY RANG OUT: “HERE’S THE BRIDEGROOM! COME OUT TO MEET HIM!"
“THEN ALL THE VIRGINS WOKE UP AND TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS. THE FOOLISH ONES SAID TO THE WISE ONES, ‘GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL; OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT.’“‘NO,’ THEY REPLIED, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR BOTH US AND YOU. INSTEAD, GO TO THOSE WHO SELL OIL AND BUY SOME FOR YOURSELVES." BUT WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO BUY THE OIL, THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVED. THE VIRGINS WHO WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE WEDDING BANQUET. AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT. LATER THE OTHERS ALSO CAME. ‘LORD, LORD,’ THEY SAID, ‘OPEN THE DOOR FOR US!' BUT HE REPLIED, ‘TRULY I TELL YOU, I DON’T KNOW YOU.’ THEREFORE KEEP WATCH, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW THE DAY OR THE HOUR.
MATTHEW 25: 1-13
Each of these deserve a post of their own and I will write separately on them.
With fear?
Anger?
Despair?
Victimisation… why me?
Logic?
Diligence?
Do you live in an expectation that life should be problem free because you have done everything in your power to make it so?
Or did you get over the joy of life when you were 7 and your dog died?
Are you cynical and sad now?
What about approaching problems with hope?
With God?
If you have God on your side then you approach your problems with his secret sauce… love.
AND SO WE KNOW AND RELY ON THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR US. GOD IS LOVE. WHOEVER LIVES IN LOVE LIVES IN GOD AND GOD IN THEM.
1 JOHN 4:16
God’s love is even more incredible than his supernatural powers.
How about basking in that for a while?
Just let God’s love take over.
It will cause a shift in how you approach everything in life.
How you think.
How you talk and how you act.
Even your mother-in-law will feel the benefit.
Suddenly you stop thinking people are against you and start understanding God is with you.
In everything.
Life can suddenly turn bad… look at the Ukrainians.
Can they rely on the West to save them? Seems not.
Do you feel secure about world peace or are you fearful right now?
Do you think your country has enough powerful friends that you feel safe?
Or will your country be next to be attacked?
No matter how perfect your hair and how large your bank balance… things outside of your control can instantly ruin everything.
What do we have left?
God.
God’s love.
COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
MATTHEW 11:28
What kind of a fantastic offer is that?
Who would say no? I
f you have no problems in your life… you are fortunate, naive and sheltered and probably very young. Life is not perfect.
There are lots of obstacles in your path.
Turn to God.
Don’t face the tough things in life alone.
It will make you exhausted, weary, sad and bitter.
Turn to God.
He is always there waiting.
Ask for his strength and his support.
Ask humbly for his help.
Tell him you can’t cope.
There is no shame in that… he knows already.
Then see how much better you feel.
Maybe your gran will still die but suddenly your life is filled with grace.
Yes, you have sadness but it is cocooned in God’s grace.
The peace that his love gives you is the answer to all life’s ails.
That is why Jesus was able to sleep in the storm when Peter was panicking that the boat would sink. Jesus knew everything was in the Father’s ultimate control.
Facing a problem in life?
Imitate Jesus…
give it to God the Father.
DEAR GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS LIFE AND ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US. WE ASK THAT YOU COMFORT AND GUIDE US IN TIMES OF STRIFE AND HELP US TO DO YOUR WILL. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN