HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO PROBLEMS?

TIDBIT of TRUTH TUESDAY

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching two classes at a community education center.  It was a fun day and I enjoyed meeting each person in attendance.  I shared with the group in my Cook Once - Eat All Week class that there are two trivial irritations that can get me rattled instantly.

• When my car breaks down.
• When I don't know what I am serving for supper - and it's 5:00 PM!

I do pretty well at handling the BIG STUFF - but totally "lose it" with the LITTLE THINGS!

There is a reason for our trials, tribulations, temptations and testing.
Life is NOT always easy.

I found this article by Pastor Rick Warren to be a great help in gaining a fresh perspective on those situations that cause us to cringe, fret or get angry.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Gods Purpose Behind Your Problems By Pastor Rick Warren Saddleback Church   1. God uses problems to DIRECT you – Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart. (Proverbs 20:30 New Living Translation).  2. God uses problems to INSPECT you – People are like teabags if you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. (James 1:2-3, NCV) 3. God uses problems to CORRECT you – Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It’s likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something – health, money, a relationship – by losing it. It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. (Psalm 119:71-72, Living Bible) 4. God uses problems to PROTECT you – A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend of mine was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem – but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when his boss actions were uncovered.  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. (Genesis 50:20 - New International Version)   5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. – Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you’re going to take with you into eternity. We can rejoice when we run into problems they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. (Romans 5:3-4 - Living Bible Paraphrase) Here’s the point: God is at work in your life – even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it’s much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him!   Article by Rick Warren, Saddleback Church. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA., a congregation that now averages 16,000 in attendance each weekend. Rick is also author of The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, and founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for those in ministry. From Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox, a free weekly e-newsletter for those in ministry. © Pastors.com, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.