Encouragement: Dealing with Problems God's Way

There are some problems in life that just don't go away. You have tried different approaches.You have tried ignoring the problem. You have tried facing them head on. But nothing seems to work. Then, there are personal and spiritual goals that, no matter how hard you try, they never seem to be any closer. If you let your mind go out of control, you start to think that these problems are unsurmountable. You feel trapped, betrayed, even angry. Anger lead the way to hopelessness and an incredible amount of sadness. You are sad for the opportunities you have lost, for the efforts you haven't made, for the efforts that weren't enough, for the things you didn't try long enough, for your shortcomings, for your faults, your selfishness, and the least could go on and on. You can almost physically feel the battle going on for your soul. You grab for any sense of hope and then you happen to read something that lifts you up.

You find yourself picking up a book you started months ago-one of those never finished attempts- Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow. She was talking to wives about becoming more like the woman in Proverbs 31. She talked about two approaches to self improvement: the I-Do-All-Myself approach and the I-Let-God-Do-Everything approach. Neither of these approaches will help us to succeed. The approach that will work, she said, is for God to put in his 100% (which of course He always does) and for us to put in our 100%. It is kind of an equation: 100%+100%= Personal and Spiritual growth.

It occurs to you that this is the way of dealing with problems. It reminds you of that saying from a saint "Pray as if everything depends on God, act as if everything depends on you". Then doubts come: "How do I know that God would do his part, his 100%?" Because", you answered yourself, "who He is. Because He is faithful and trustworthy (which means he is worthy of MY trust, right). Because there is no falsehood in Him. Because He does what He said He was going to do. Because He delivers. Because His Word is true. Because He does what He promised He was going to do."

And what is that?
He promised to make you a new creation.
He promised that He shall not fail or desert you (Heb 13:5)
He promised that "God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turn everything for their good". (Rom 8:28)

And because He encourages us:

"... let us exult, too, in our hardships, understanding that hardship develops perseverance, and perseverance develops character, something that gives us hope, and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us". (Rom. 5"3-5)

So when you fail in love, you can love with the love of God. What a great hope that is!

And because he invites you to unload your burdens:

"Bow down, then before the power of God now, so that He may raise you up in due time, unload all your burdens unto him, since he is concerned about you (He Cares!)

And because he warns:

"keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl, like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand up to him, strong in faith..."

And more than anything because many years ago you made the decision to not only believe in him but to believe HIM.

When you face love so strong, so faithful, so whole, so healing, you can't but respond with all you've got. You make a decision right now, right here to renew your hope, renew your trust and renew your obedience, knowing that this journey to holiness is a lifelong journey. And you know without a shadow of a doubt that this is not going to be the last time you will be in need of encouragement. How blessed you are that you know where to get the encouragement you need!