What is a problem?
You often hear that it is “a situation without a solution” or “an undesirable, difficult situation.” But what is your perception? What do you consider undesirable? What may be a big problem for one person, another may handle effortlessly. And what situation are we actually talking about? Is it about your choice of clothing, or are we talking, for example, about assisting in end-of-life care? There’s quite a difference between those. Still, the severity when naming a problem isn’t as important. It’s about how we look at things.
Paul had a problem too. Read about it in 2 Corinthians 12:7b… “He has let me be severely humiliated by a servant of Satan, who beats me with fists. You could call this a thorn in my flesh.” His action was to pray, see verse 8.
The continuation is written by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “But the Lord answered him, ‘My grace is sufficient for you. For power is fully revealed in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul prayed three times and got the same answer every time. Grace here is the Greek word charis = favor. You also find this in the word charisma, which refers to the anointing or skill from God. This is more than enough to overcome any situation. Paul doesn’t continue to pray forcefully and desperately, while we often pray for years for the solution to a problem.
So, move forward and don’t always choose the path of least resistance. Try not to avoid all problems. Live fully in dependence on God. Say with Paul: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” We should actually develop our weakness, while the world claims the opposite.
We often think that people who seem to have it all together, outwardly with no problems, are the ones walking in God’s favor. But people in the Bible, even well-known figures like Abraham, Moses, and even Jesus, were confronted with great problems. You could almost say the more undesirable situations you have, the closer you are walking with God.
So, we need to redefine our vision of the question, “What is a problem?” You must grow internally, build resistance against problems regardless of the circumstances. A problem can almost be seen as a blessing. Your character can grow through it. You become a stronger, more stable person. You now approach a situation differently: “Look at me, everything is going wrong, so God is with me.”
So, don’t avoid problems, but see how you can grow through them. Approach them this way, talk about them, explore the Bible, and share your vision with others. Give your children the resilience to deal with them in this way.
A fish swims in the sea but doesn’t taste salt, no matter how long it swims in it. In other words, your circumstances don’t determine your inner being. And only a living fish can swim against the current. Once you choose to boast about your weaknesses, you receive strength from God.
Proverbs 23:7 says: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [AMP]). The way we look at the world around us determines our life.
A problem is not necessarily the result of a mistake or disobedience to God. Read in John 16:33b that Jesus announces a struggle: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (HTB). And in John 17:15, He says: “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one.”
No matter how many problems surround you, the favor of God over your life is more than enough to handle everything. You must believe this based on what the Bible tells us.
In many churches, it is taught that you must fight problems like a warrior: attack and arrest them. We have learned differently. The only battle is the battle of faith. The size of your problems is determined by your thinking and the degree of your faith. Problems often grow bigger when you focus on them and feel uncomfortable. Peace disappears, and sweat breaks out. The soul, the seat of our thinking and desires, ultimately determines what the situation becomes. That’s why the Bible also says, “The Word separates soul and spirit” (Heb. 4:12).
How do we deal with a situation? There are three choices:
- Accept the situation and become bitter It’s not going as hoped or expected. You blame God, others, yourself, and the circumstances.
Note, James 1:13 says, “Let no one, when tempted, say, ‘I am tempted by God.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
With this choice, you act foolishly. People are deeply unhappy and still living in the past, the time before the problem. The problem remains active in their thoughts, and they do not enjoy life at all.
- Change the situation Don’t blame anyone and take action yourself. Still not the best choice. The danger is that you can’t fully enjoy life until you’ve solved the problem. This requires struggle. It holds your thoughts captive and robs you of joy.
- Accept and let go You don’t have to fight it. Correct your thinking. Everything will work together for good. Hold on to your joy because it is your strength. Be content. Even Paul doesn’t fight, but he has learned to be content in every circumstance. Read what he writes: Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)
When you correct your thinking, peace comes immediately instead of fear and unrest.
Psalm 131:1-3 “O Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
How to deal with problems, from small to large Practical summary:
- It’s a matter of perception: write down why something is a problem for you.
- Make a choice (and go for option 3) and take action if necessary. Deal with something you’ve been procrastinating.
- Relativize, avoid self-pity. It rains for everyone, the good and the bad. Should you really be so worried about it? Count your blessings!
- See your problem as a (stress) test, not a challenge. Have you grown in character?
- Use the problem as motivation. The lesson pushes you forward in character development. When you look back, you’ll see the purpose it served. Just like you test a bank or chair by applying pressure, God tests you too.
- Look forward to promotion. God wants to prepare you for more.
- “Enjoy the ride.” Realize that problems will always be there. Don’t let your joy and peace depend on a specific milestone, event, or future situation.
- Let yourself be comforted by the verse in James 1:2-5: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Read Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Seek peace and bring it before Him, Who makes everything work together for good.