One of the things you will notice about living in Texas is its weather. It is very unpredictable. Last Saturday, it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was wonderful to be outside. Then, on the following day, the weather dropped down to the upper 40s. The weather is like our lives: very unpredictable. Everything is going well today, and the next day, we are confronted with difficult problems. Some of our problems come from bad choices we make, while others happen because of things we cannot change or control. When we are confronted with difficult problems, we have two options: we handle it in our own way or handle it in God's way. It is normal to worry when difficult problems suddenly confront us. It is our normal response as human beings. However, the problem lies in how we deal with our worries. The negative way of dealing with our sudden difficult problems is to try to handle it our way. When we try to handle our difficult problems in our own way, we can fall into compulsive decisions to get out of the situation immediately, but we still have the source of the problem.
For example, a man named James always worries about his finances because, although he has a high salary, he barely has enough to get by every month. His compulsive solution to his financial problem is to use his credit cards or borrow money from someone. Using his credit card or borrowing money solves his immediate problem, but it is only a temporary solution. He began to solve his financial problem when he confronted the source of his financial problem. He realizes that the source of his financial problems is his compulsive spending. He buys things even though he cannot afford them. Once he begins to cut his spending and only buy things that he can afford, his financial situations get better. The story of James is just an example, but we may relate to his compulsive solutions. Solving our problems without finding the solution to the source of our problems is not a permanent solution at all. We need God's help to know the source of our problems, and we need His courage and wisdom to find a solution to the source of our problems. Instead of trying to solve our problems right away, we need to ask God immediately for guidance and wisdom. Psalm 102:1 says, "Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you."
There are many situations in which I am confronted with sudden, difficult problems, and my immediate response is always: "Lord, please help me and give me direction on what to do." God is always faithful to hear my prayer.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What should I do when I face a difficult problem? How can I avoid trying to only solve my problem with a temporary solution? Does God hear my prayer?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, My life can be unpredictable, but you are always consistent. You are not surprised by everything that is going on in my life. Please help me discern the source of my problems and give me the courage and guidance to solve them. Please protect me from trying to solve my problem my way instead of your way. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Comments