How do you handle problems? How do you respond when faced with difficult situations?

How we deal with problems will determine our quality of life. Have you ever known people that are constantly facing problem after problem? The ones that are always talking about how bad everything is in their life. I’ll bet they are not a very happy or positive person. I have heard it said that some people don’t just worry occasionally, they worry recreationally. But have you ever noticed how positive and happier people don’t talk about their problems very often? Think about it, how many successful people do you know that are consumed with their problems? When you find people that seemingly do not have many problems I’ll bet you’ll find a happy and positive person. You see, the problem is not the problem. The problem is how people deal with the problem. Positive people do not have less problems, they just deal with them very differently than negative people do.

Solutions to problems do not appear when you are in the midst of being caught up in them. You cannot deal with a problem unless you first deal with the way you respond to them. If you are constantly complaining and frustrated about your problems chances are you will continually be caught up in them. This cycle will go on and on until you are completely consumed with negative situations in your life. It is not until we step back from the situation and change our perspective that we can see solutions. Being angry, upset, and bitter at your problems will not open the door to you overcoming them. The only way to overcome problems is to realize that God is bigger than your problems. Most people spend all their time telling God how big their problems are, rather than telling their problems how big their God is. What you focus on you will magnify. This is why we are told to magnify God by focusing on Him not our problems. This is why David could write these words in the Psalms…

Psalm 34:1-4

Did you get that? David said, “I will extol the Lord at ALL times…ALL times. His praise will ALWAYS be on my lips. God doesn’t want us walking around complaining and grumbling about our problems, He wants us to magnify Him and call on His power that helps us breakthrough our problems. Remember, the Bible says we are MORE than conquerers through Christ.

Solutions and provision for our problems come when we take our focus off of them and put them on God’s power. When we look at our problems with the belief that God will give us everything we need to overcome them, then we will stop having so many problems. Not because our problems will disappear, but because we are more focused on God’s sovereign power that gives us solutions before it even becomes a problem to us. Stop looking at everything as a problem and start looking at things as an opportunity for God to show Himself strong through you. Change your perspective and you change your life. Psychologist M. Scott Peck said, “Life is a series of problems. Do you want to moan about them or solve them?”