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Problems!
By Dr. Greg Faulls
By Dr. Greg Faulls
Problems are a part of Life. But we don’t
like them? Like Charlie Brown we say,
“There’s no problem so big that I can’t run
from it.” Or we wrestle with our problems
and react like the lion tamer who put this
ad in his local paper: “Lion tamer wants
tamer lion.” We don’t like problems. We
dream of the day our boss will get off our
back, our kids will do what we say, our
parents will stop nagging, the car won’t
break down, and creditors will stop calling
for payment. We want problems to go
away.
like them? Like Charlie Brown we say,
“There’s no problem so big that I can’t run
from it.” Or we wrestle with our problems
and react like the lion tamer who put this
ad in his local paper: “Lion tamer wants
tamer lion.” We don’t like problems. We
dream of the day our boss will get off our
back, our kids will do what we say, our
parents will stop nagging, the car won’t
break down, and creditors will stop calling
for payment. We want problems to go
away.
But without problems our lives would be insignificant. Problems give meaning to life! If you didn’t have
problems at school you wouldn’t have much to learn. If you didn’t have problems at work, you wouldn’t have
job security. You are paid to solve problems. Problems are part of life and should not paralyze us. Instead
we should view our problems from new perspectives.
toward the battle line to meet him” (1 Samuel 17:48). David didn’t hide behind someone else, he didn’t ignore
toward the battle line to meet him” (1 Samuel 17:48). David didn’t hide behind someone else, he didn’t ignore
the problem. He faced off with it and ran to the battle line.
the problem. He faced off with it and ran to the battle line.
Problems are opportunities for us to develop courage. And courage isn’t the absence of fear. It is facing our
problems despite any fear we might have. Do you have a problem at school, work, at home, with your spouse,
your boyfriend/girlfriend, your ex? Maybe you have a problem yourself, with an addiction, or a bad habit, or a
flaw in character. Recognize this is a problem you must face. You would never develop courage or display
valor if there were no problems.
Second, problems prove character. The pressure of problems always exposes the true condition of our soul.
When the pressure heats up and the problems pour down over your life what character will the Lord see in
you? Will he see that you fear him and are unwavering in your commitment to him? Or will he see that your
heart is really not all his?
Third, problems demand that we both use our own abilities and that we enlist the abilities of others. When you
face your problem you have to discern when you need help. Too many people try to handle problems on their
own. Some small problems you might be able to handle without help. But most of life’s problems demand that
you secure the wisdom and expertise of others as well as apply effort of your own.
Fourth, problems inspire us toward better ideas which produce better results. Don’t look at your problem as
something that will destroy God’s work in you. Look at it as an opportunity to find solutions that advance God’
s will even further in your life. Trust that God will reveal to you solutions that could bring a greater return than
you were producing before you faced the problem.
Fifth, look at your problems from the perspective that they are opportunities to witness God’s power. Read the
Bible. It is all about God showing his power in the midst of real serious problems. We are on a journey of
faith. Trust God, even when you don’t know what he will do to see you through the problem. Seek him and
work the problem as you do and trust that God will show up in the way he has chosen.
Finally, don’t forget that God has already solved your biggest problem. He sent his Son to die for your sin. He
has provided Christ as your way to heaven. No matter what problems you are facing now, God will make all
things right in the end. Heaven, if you have surrendered your life to Christ, is in your future. Even big
problems are small in light of the eternal life God has provided in Jesus Christ. What a powerful perspective
this gives us on life’s little problems.
Dr. Greg Faulls is Senior Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky.
problems at school you wouldn’t have much to learn. If you didn’t have problems at work, you wouldn’t have
job security. You are paid to solve problems. Problems are part of life and should not paralyze us. Instead
we should view our problems from new perspectives.
toward the battle line to meet him” (1 Samuel 17:48). David didn’t hide behind someone else, he didn’t ignore
toward the battle line to meet him” (1 Samuel 17:48). David didn’t hide behind someone else, he didn’t ignore
the problem. He faced off with it and ran to the battle line.
the problem. He faced off with it and ran to the battle line.
Problems are opportunities for us to develop courage. And courage isn’t the absence of fear. It is facing our
problems despite any fear we might have. Do you have a problem at school, work, at home, with your spouse,
your boyfriend/girlfriend, your ex? Maybe you have a problem yourself, with an addiction, or a bad habit, or a
flaw in character. Recognize this is a problem you must face. You would never develop courage or display
valor if there were no problems.
Second, problems prove character. The pressure of problems always exposes the true condition of our soul.
When the pressure heats up and the problems pour down over your life what character will the Lord see in
you? Will he see that you fear him and are unwavering in your commitment to him? Or will he see that your
heart is really not all his?
Third, problems demand that we both use our own abilities and that we enlist the abilities of others. When you
face your problem you have to discern when you need help. Too many people try to handle problems on their
own. Some small problems you might be able to handle without help. But most of life’s problems demand that
you secure the wisdom and expertise of others as well as apply effort of your own.
Fourth, problems inspire us toward better ideas which produce better results. Don’t look at your problem as
something that will destroy God’s work in you. Look at it as an opportunity to find solutions that advance God’
s will even further in your life. Trust that God will reveal to you solutions that could bring a greater return than
you were producing before you faced the problem.
Fifth, look at your problems from the perspective that they are opportunities to witness God’s power. Read the
Bible. It is all about God showing his power in the midst of real serious problems. We are on a journey of
faith. Trust God, even when you don’t know what he will do to see you through the problem. Seek him and
work the problem as you do and trust that God will show up in the way he has chosen.
Finally, don’t forget that God has already solved your biggest problem. He sent his Son to die for your sin. He
has provided Christ as your way to heaven. No matter what problems you are facing now, God will make all
things right in the end. Heaven, if you have surrendered your life to Christ, is in your future. Even big
problems are small in light of the eternal life God has provided in Jesus Christ. What a powerful perspective
this gives us on life’s little problems.
Dr. Greg Faulls is Senior Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky.
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