Problem Defined

Problem Defined

Genesis 2: ¹⁸ And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ¹⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

 

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During the creation, GOD saw a problem. Man was alone. All of the animals, birds and fish were brought to the man to see what he would call them. But nothing in all of creation was a suitable helper “comparable to him.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD saw a problem that HIS creation would be lonely even though HE was with the creation.
• GOD said. For the first time, “It is not good.”
• GOD wanted the best for HIS creation, so HE decided to make a “helper comparable to him.”

 

For the first time we see the name Adam mentioned. He was made with extreme intelligence and creativity. GOD made all the animals, birds and fish, but Adam named all of them. He did not need the tree of knowledge of good and evil, rather he needed some help.

 

Adam had enough on his plate, tending to the garden and naming the animals. This was not a stressful job, but a lot to do. GOD may have wanted the human to have someone to celebrate new observations and enjoy each other. Adam had plenty of time to do all that he had to do, because he was not made to die.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the first problem?
• Can you see how GOD wanted the best for HIS creation?
• Are you aware that GOD wants the best for you and HE wants you fully restored today?

Elusive Perfection

Elusive Perfection

2 Corinthians 12: ⁷ But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. ⁸ Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. ¹⁰ I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

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My prayers felt unheard. “LORD please heal me of…” or “LORD please heal this person or that person” or “LORD please give me a certain amount of money by this date” or something else I would ask for. When the answer was “No” I questioned if I was doing something wrong.

 

• I sometimes got tired of praying and hearing “No” for the answer.
• I kept looking at current circumstances as being hopeless.
• I wondered “why are these things happening to me?” when I was trying hard.

 

Paul was called by GOD in a magnificent way. But he also suffered a lot. He had a problem that he prayed to be released from on three occasions. He was probably thinking “If this problem would just be gone, then I would be able to serve GOD better.” GOD’s answer, “MY grace is all you need.”

 

My Observations

• I keep trying to make my relationship with GOD one sided.
• I have many problems and not a lot of answers.
• I have looked at problems the wrong way and GOD wants me to see HIS power is greatest when I am not in HIS way.

 

Fixing the world’s problems seemed simple to me at one time. I mean, after GOD forgave my rebellious lifestyle, HE had me learn about HIM. I found many promises of protections, wealth and great relationships with everyone. But that did not pan out the way I thought.

 

I ran into problem after problem after problem. “Why aren’t my prayers being answered?” I would ask. Little did I know, my prayers were being answered with “No, because MY grace is all you need.” HE guides me to realize that when I am weakest, I can feel CHRIST’s power over me. I am content with my weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties for CHRIST’s sake.

 

Challenge

• Can you feel the anguish of the writer?
• Have you ever prayed for something to change over and over and over, yet it has not?
• Can you follow the writer’s example and look at the situation different by understanding that GOD’s power is greatest when your power is reduced and only HE can solve the situation in HIS time, in HIS way?

Part of the Plan

 

Part of the Plan

Acts 27: ³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰ Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. ⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

 

⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely

 

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When I got in the camper, I was excited to meet the driver, although he drove a bit slow. We finally crossed the border. The next day I expected to leave on time, but we left two and a half hours late and got lost for another hour and a half. Now, four hours late, we could not do the things we planned, to tell people about CHRIST in this neighborhood. GOD brought people out anyway.

 

• Sometimes my plan includes impatience.
• Sometimes my plan only includes what could go right.
• Sometimes my plan does not include a promise GOD made.

 

Land was so close, everyone could see it. They devised another plan to get aground safely, probably so they could continue using the ship later. That plan was met with problem after problem. The entire trip seemed like a disaster from the time they left. Eventually, everyone made it to land alive, but the ship was lost. GOD’s plan to deliver Paul to Rome was still in action.

 

• GOD wants me to see HIS plan in the middle of things going wrong.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS plan when problem after problem comes.
• GOD wants me to know HIS plan cannot be stopped, even when trials arise.

 

“How could this possibly be for good?” I have asked GOD on many occasion. I mean, it seems pretty bad right now, I would think while the problem was happening. BUT GOD’s plan is never like my plan.

 

HE knew the problem would occur and uses the trial to bring good I cannot always see. Many hearts turn to GOD when trouble occurs, mine included. HE then strengthens me to trust HIM more as HE delivers me from problem after problem. I am glad GOD knows how to grow me.

 

• Are your plans going wrong?
• Did you do or say something that seemed to turn into a disaster?
• Will you place your trust in GOD today so HE can complete the great plan HE has for you?

 

Facing Problems

Facing Problems

John 18: When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ² And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³ Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶ Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

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Hostile is the only word I could use to describe the crowd. I had to prepare my notes so I could present the information in a palatable way. The closer it came for my turn to speak, the more scared I became. I took a deep breath because I was super nervous. I stammered over the first few words when I got on stage, but I got through the difficult presentation.

• Sometimes I do not want to face problems.
• Most times I do not want to go through trials.
• Sometimes I just want the problem to go away.

Judas betrayed JESUS with a large number of military soldiers. He had help from the church leaders to gather this kind of power. They were armed and ready for fights. Did Judas stir them up so they expected the crowd to turn against them? In the middle of this tense situation, JESUS faced the problem and calmly walked out and said HE was the one they were looking for.

• JESUS wants me to face problems, knowing HE is with me.
• JESUS wants me to address difficult situations, knowing the HOLY SPIRIT is with me.
• JESUS wants me to accept trials, knowing the FATHER is with me.

Huge problems can be scary at times. BUT GOD is there with me to guide me through the situation. HE gives me strength to face the problem especially when the problem is spiritual in nature.

HE understands the war and knows I will face many battles. HE gets excited, because HE has already won the war because HE was raised from the dead and given all glory. I can face trials with JESUS on my side.

• Are you going through problems?
• Does it seem like there is no way out of the situation?
• Will you face the problem, knowing GOD is with you and cares for you?

Facing Huge Challenges

Haggai 2: ⁴ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

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Nervous about the journey I set out by myself. I had never traveled this far alone. “Which block do I turn down?” Dogs could sense my fear as I scurried past them. I made it to school safely. This was huge! Years later, with little to no counseling, I applied for college. I stood in the wrong line to sign up for classes and had no idea how to study, but somehow I made it.

Still years later I had just implemented technology to make the company more money. After the celebration, the position I held was eliminated. I was back to asking “Which way should I go?”

• There have been many times I have been faced with walking blindly.
• There have been many times I have had to go places that seemed unknown.
• There have been many times I have been in an impossible situation that seemed like I would overwhelmingly fail.

In each instance I felt like giving up. I mean I had no help, no one to guide me and the odds seemed impossible. BUT GOD always had a different message.

• GOD said to me “Be strong for I brought you out of Egypt.”
• GOD said to me “Be strong for I have been with you every step of the way.”
• GOD said to me “Be strong for MY SPIRIT remains among you. Do not fear.”

I left out a part in each story. When I felt like giving up, GOD showed me the way. Inevitably a person would pop up and guide me to a better place. HE placed HIS servants all over the world and enabled me to be guided in places I never would have dreamed of. HE has led me to still waters and restored my soul.

• Do you feel lost?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Will you stop looking for the destination and seek GOD who will give you strength?
• Will you ask HIM for HIS direction and deliverance today?

Make HIM Bigger

Isaiah 66: This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
    Where will my resting place be?
² Has not my hand made all these things,
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
    and who tremble at my word.

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Searching all over the house, I could not find my keys. I said a quick prayer “LORD help me” and in a moment I got a thought to look on the side of the bed and there they were. Another time, I could not get a bolt off of the car I was fixing. “LORD help me” were my words and soon the bolt eased its stubbornness and subsided. But when a large problem occurred I said “I wonder if I should even pray.”

• There were times when I thought GOD was small.
• There were times when I thought GOD was nothing but a punisher.
• There were times when I thought GOD was the “Man Upstairs” not paying attention to my needs.

Relegating GOD only to small tasks of finding keys or helping me fix a car or turning off the oven when I left to go to work became the norm. My faith in GOD soon followed. I did not believe HE could solve large problems because I never gave HIM the chance. BUT GOD was graceful to me.

• GOD placed me in situations where I had to trust HIM and HE did what HE said.
• GOD put me in circumstances where I had to believe only in HIM because there was nowhere to turn.
• GOD sent me to places where it was only me and HIM and I had to see that I was never alone.

Once I realized that GOD could never be contained in a building I soon saw how BIG HE truly is. HE is the GOD of the heavens and the earth. HE has all power and is everywhere. HE knows all, sees all and is in all, yet HE is concerned about finding my keys as well as any large issue I face. All HE wants from me is to love HIM through understanding HIS ways in HIS Word. That is humbling.

• Are you making GOD small by not asking HIM to meet or exceed your needs?
• Will you allow HIM to meet your needs in HIS time?
• Can you open your eyes around you and see just how large HE truly is?
• Will you allow HIM to grow you?

Nothing is Too Large

Isaiah 37: ¹⁴ Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ¹⁶ “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁷ Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

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“Impossible” is what I felt when I tried to button my shirt on my own. It seemed like the buttons would never line up. I eventually learned. “Impossible” is the same feeling I felt when it came to getting into the high school I attended because it required a test. I passed. I started accomplishing more and more. Soon “I” was the one who could accomplish bigger and bigger things. But after a while some of the big things became BIG things that I could not handle on my own. What was I to do?

• Sometimes the problems I face seem to be insurmountable.
• Sometimes the situations I am in seem to be overwhelming.
• Sometimes the battles I am in seem to be a losing effort.

There are times in which I see the odds and they do not look good at all. I mean look at “insert problem”, it is huge! When I look at the problem a little longer I get worried and scared. Then the problem turns from big to BIG!

• GOD says to me “Bring your problems to ME because I can handle them.”
• GOD says to me “Spread your problems out before the LORD your GOD and acknowledge MY power.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the one who holds everything in MY hands, I will deliver you as I promised.”

The reason GOD “can” make a promise is because HE is the only one who can keep a promise without failure. GOD’s strength is impossible to move and HE alone is GOD over all the kingdoms of the earth. Whenever I have a problem, the first place for me to run is to HIM. HE has the right to chasten me, pick me up and deliver me from insurmountable odds within the same movement.

GOD hears and sees all of those who are against HIM and HE protects me daily!

• Are you in a huge battle?
• Do you feel that the odds are against you?
• Will you step back and spread your problems out before the LORD?
• Will you allow HIM to thoroughly change the situation that is out of your power?