What Does the Bible Say?

Does God Have a Purpose for Your Problems?

If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that many of the life problems we face we cause. 

Financial issues? 

• Have you been following God’s principles?
  • Do you tithe?
  • Do you save money?
  • Do you avoid paying interest (buying on credit)?
  • Do you live within your income?

Work issues? 

• Have you been following God’s principles?
  • Are you a good employee?
  • Are you investing in yourself by having and maintaining a current skill set?
  • Do you get to work on time and give a full day’s work?
  • Are you submitting to and following the authority of your boss?

Relationship issues? 

• Have you been following God’s principles?
  • Are you a good friend?
  • Do you forgive others as God has forgiven you?

Writing Issues?

• Maybe you’re a Christian writer like me. Are you having writing issues?
  • Are you praying for God to direct your writing?
  • Are you writing regularly?
  • Are you improving your writing skills through study and practice?

Well, you get the picture. 

Defeat or Develop?

Life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems you face either defeat or develop you. It all depends on how you respond to them.

Ask God what He is trying to tell you from the problems you face. Romans 8:28 ESV says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Five Ways God Wants To Use The Problems In Your Life

1. God Uses Problems to Direct You

• Proverbs 20:30 ESV, “Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.”
• Some problems are needed to get our atttention and get us back on the right track.

2. God Uses Problems To Inspect You

• James 1:2-3 ESV, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
• Caution: Too much self-analysis can be dangerous. Don’t dwell on the why. The why may be as simple as you disobeyed God’s principles for life and now have the consequences of your choices and actions. Accept and admit when your problems are self-inflicted.

3. God Uses Problems To Correct You.

• Psalm 119:71-72 ESV, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
• Some lessons come through pain and failure.

4. God Uses Problems To Protect You

• Genesis 50:20 ESV, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
• A problem can be your protection if it keeps you from something worse.

5. God Uses Problems To Perfect You

• Romans 5:3-5 ESV, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
• A problem can lead you to God and eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.

Takeaways:

1. Problems when responded to correctly are character builders.
2. God is more interested in our character than our comfort.
3. Your relationships with God and your character are the only things you will take with you to eternity. (see Romans 5:3-4)

God wants to make changes in your life where you can make a difference in the life of others and where you have an impact for Christ in the world.

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Photo Source: Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay