3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Romans 5: 3-5
Trials, difficulties and problems are a part of life and if approached correctly they can help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties and Satan's attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance—which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future.
Throughout this week we will be looking at five ways God uses problems in our lives.
1. God uses problems to direct us.
God often uses problems to point us in a new direction, to motivate us to change. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” We change not when we see the light but when we feel the heat. Sometimes God has to light a fire under us. We then become uneasy and uncomfortable and life gets hot. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasure but he shouts to us in our pain.” God gets our attention real quickly when problems come upon us.
A person is more likely to change when he or she gets desperate. God uses problems to direct us and get us moving. God uses our problems to prompt us to change. Change is rare when there aren’t any problems. In understanding that God uses problems to prompt us to change, one may ask: “Where is this problem leading me?” Problems never leave us where they found us. When we go through a problem, we always end up someplace different from where we started. God uses problems to direct us.
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle
Trials, difficulties and problems are a part of life and if approached correctly they can help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties and Satan's attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance—which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future.
Throughout this week we will be looking at five ways God uses problems in our lives.
1. God uses problems to direct us.
God often uses problems to point us in a new direction, to motivate us to change. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” We change not when we see the light but when we feel the heat. Sometimes God has to light a fire under us. We then become uneasy and uncomfortable and life gets hot. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasure but he shouts to us in our pain.” God gets our attention real quickly when problems come upon us.
A person is more likely to change when he or she gets desperate. God uses problems to direct us and get us moving. God uses our problems to prompt us to change. Change is rare when there aren’t any problems. In understanding that God uses problems to prompt us to change, one may ask: “Where is this problem leading me?” Problems never leave us where they found us. When we go through a problem, we always end up someplace different from where we started. God uses problems to direct us.
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle
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