One might ask, “Why would I ever be grateful for the problems I am experiencing?”
There are many great books written by good people on how we can overturn our problems by discovering the opportunities that lie within them. There are websites you can go to seeking what you want to know. Some are good; some are not!
J.C. Penney, a businessman and entrepreneur who founded J.C. Penny stores, once said: “I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties.”
Penney, like many of us, had difficult times in his life. Living through some hard times, especially the great depression, Penney overcame his problems by turning back to God for his deliverance. He heard the hymn “God will take care of you” and at that moment became a born-again Christian. He had finally realized who the great problem solver is.
The Bible is full of stories of good people who went through difficult times.
Take your Bible and read the book of Job. This was a man who loved God with all of his heart. Even though God allowed Satan to run rampant and take away his wealth, family, and possessions, Job never doubted the Lord to take care of him.
Another example of problems that suddenly approach us is the time Jesus was in the boat with His disciples and a storm came up quickly. Jesus was asleep and the disciples woke Him up because they were afraid and Jesus rebuked them by saying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Think about David, the young Sheppard boy, when he faced the giant Goliath.
All of us today struggle with problems in one form or another. This is nothing new to our society.
I believe that most of our problems begin when we take our eyes off of Jesus and listen to what the world is advising and telling us. So many people have hardened their hearts to what the Bible has told us for centuries and have gotten away from the Word of God. Many of us face difficult circumstances and never realize that God is in control and His will is going to be done.
Even though we feel defeated at times, we need to stop and look at the opportunities that lie within our problems. Robert South once said, “Defeat should never be a source of discouragement, but rather a fresh stimulus.”
Whatever problems you are facing today will pass away. Look to Jesus for your guidance and answers and He will answer you.
GARY ANDREWS' devotional appears each week on the Church Pages of your Clarksdale Press Register. You can contact him at GARY@gadevotionals.com
