Tag: James 1:2-3

Embracing Life’s Challenges: How Problems Shape Your Life Journey

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Welcome to “It’s Never Too Late: Uncovering the Magic of Writing After Sixty,” I’m Dr. Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Christian nonfiction author and poet. This is my writer’s log for Monday, July 10, 2023. Today, I’m writing about embracing life’s challenges as I look at how problems shape your life journey.

Introduction

Maybe, like me, you’re facing challenges in various aspects of your life. I’m dealing with health issues like trigger finger (see photo), irritable bowel syndrome, and pancreatitis. Plus, I’m sixty-nine years and nine months old. Father Time has found me and is working me over.

Some of these issues are my excuses for being slow in getting edits/rewrites completed.

Dr Jim Kepler with trigger finger in a splint.

Be it personal, professional, or spiritual, it’s important to recognize that life presents us with many opportunities for problem-solving.

How we respond to these obstacles determines whether they will defeat us or contribute to our personal growth.

In this article, we’ll explore how God uses problems to guide, examine, correct, protect, and perfect us, as supported by powerful verses from the Bible.

1. God Uses Problems to Direct You (Proverbs 20:30)

Sometimes we need to experience painful situations to prompt us to change our ways. The blows that wound us can cleanse away the evil within us.

“Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.” These challenges can act as guiding forces, redirecting us towards a better path.

Proverbs 20:30

2. God Uses Problems to Inspect You (James 1:2-3)

Faced with various troubles, we are called to embrace joy, knowing that these challenges test our faith and build patience within us.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

James 1:2-3

However, it’s important to exercise caution and avoid excessive self-analysis, which can lead to a detrimental “why me Lord syndrome.”

3. God Uses Problems to Correct You (Psalm 119:71-72)

Difficulties can often be the catalysts for necessary corrections in our lives.

“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.”

Psalm 119:71-72

These afflictions, in hindsight, may be the best things that could have happened to us, guiding us to pay attention to God’s teachings and guiding principles.

4. God Uses Problems to Protect You (Genesis 50:20)

When others intend to harm us, God can transform those negative intentions into something good. Joseph acknowledges this truth in Genesis 50:20.

“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.”

Genesis 50:20

God’s divine intervention can protect us from harm and transform our trials into blessings.

5. God Uses Problems to Perfect You (Romans 5:3-4)

Rather than discouraging us, problems can serve as opportunities for growth and character development.

Romans 5:3-4 teaches us to rejoice in our sufferings because they produce endurance, character, and hope.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Romans 5:3-4 ESV

These challenges strengthen our faith, enabling us to trust God more deeply.

Conclusion

Problems, when approached with the right perspective, have the potential to shape our character. While comfort may be appealing, God is more interested in our character development.

Our relationship with God and our character are the only things we will carry into eternity. Therefore, let us embrace the challenges we face, knowing that God desires to bring about positive changes in our lives, allowing us to make a difference in this world.

Remember, problems are not roadblocks, but stepping stones on our journey towards personal growth and spiritual maturity.

Does God Have a Purpose for Your Problems?

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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.

Photo Source: Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay