My Problems, His Solutions

 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am generally not a worrier.  Some of that is that I am a twin.  My sister is much more detail oriented than I am and so, for many years, I just let her do all the worrying!  But we don’t live in the same house anymore and right now things seem different.  There are several things that are occupying a lot of my attention.  I don’t like to think that I am worrying (after all that wouldn’t be a very good show of faith!) but I have to admit that these issues are occupying a lot of my thinking time.

Here is the list for tonight: I have a sister with a serious illness.  I am concerned about the spiritual status of several family members.  The company my husband works for is struggling (along with many in the building trades.).  There is a struggling marriage in the family of God that is weighing on my heart.  I have not been making the best use of my time so I feel like I am behind in projects I wanted to have written by now.  And, we are seeking God’s guidance about our future in ministry for Him.

When I go over this list in my head I get overwhelmed.  I wonder what God is doing and how I am supposed to respond to each one – no less all of them at once!  My heart drops to my stomach and I wonder what I am to do.  Immediately, in His grace, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I am not to look at my circumstances but at the Lord of my life.

Then, I remember that these are not my personal problems.  I may need to respond to them but I am not God.  I must leave the outcome of each one to Him.  He is the Great Physician (Jeremiah 30:17).  He is the Way of salvation (Acts 4:12).  It is He who provides for us – not a worldly job (1 Timothy 6:17).  Though I can come alongside people in difficult times – the way they respond is between them and God (Ezekiel 18:20).  When I am distracted from my work – now that is between me and God.  (Of all of them this is the one I need to take the initiative to change.)   And, like all of us, I must wait on God’s timing to hear His answer about a call regarding  ministry.

In the meantime, I “feel” like I “should” be doing something about these issues.  As I said, I know in my heart that these are not for me to “fix.”  I also know that in order to be a servant of God’s I need to show some compassion, be willing to help when I can, and to pray and pray and pray.  God has the big picture in His sovereign control.  He is the One who can provide in every situation.  In Psalm 50 we are reminded that “the world and it’s fullness are His.”  Whatever we need He has.

So, my problem tonight was how to get my mind off the problems and onto the One who has the solutions.  I was reading a book today that spoke about the climate that some Christians live in.  Believers in Asia, parts of India, and the Middle East hide, sneak to church meetings, and fear that their Bibles will be taken if discovered.  Here I sit reading one, without fear, from which the Lord has offered one verse from Christ’s own words: Matthew 6:27,  “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

I know the truth is that I have no problems compared to many in the world.  Most of the people represented in my list of concerns know Christ as their Savior.  The biggest problem in their lives is already taken care of.  I realize that the greatest help I can be to anyone else is to point them to the One who has the answers – and to the book He left us to give us those answers.

It is my own pride – my own sin – that makes me think that I have anything to offer anyone else.  All I really have is the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  These words that discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart are what help people.  They are what helped me to see my sin and my need for a Savior.

My worries – the ones I like to call concerns because it sounds less sinful and more “Christian” – are sinful only if I fail to give them over to the One True God who can take them all and work them for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28).  I am grateful that when He gives us faith part of the gift is His Holy Spirit to remind us of what He has taught us (John 14:26).  I know that He has the best solution to every problem I ever face.  Some days though, I can see the problems and they are standing in the way of seeing Him.  My mother would have said they make a better door than they do a window!

But, I am grateful for these trials of faith.  They are pointing me back to the Truth of the scriptures that remind me that God is all I need.  His grace is sufficient regardless of what the problem is (or what the problems are).  He promises that no matter what is happening all around me, if I have true faith in Him, He will not let anyone snatch me out of His hand.  This also makes me grateful.

Here is something else He said: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”  (Psalm 50:23)  I am going to work at keeping my eyes on this God of salvation to see just how He works out each of these issues in His time….as I work at remaining grateful, even for the trials.