Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you’re made of. People basically respond to problems in three ways: 1) they refuse to accept them, 2) they accept them and then endure them, or 3) they accept them and try to improve things. Which of the three people are you? Paul was a problem solver. He knew that with God on his side, he would prevail. ‘We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again’ (vv. 7-9 CEV). So when it comes to having problems, what should you do? 1) Anticipate them. Since problems are unavoidable, prepare for them spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If you pray for God’s best and anticipate Satan’s worst, you will find yourself in a good position to solve the problems that come your way. 2) See the big picture. You can’t afford to be overcome by emotion. Nor can you permit yourself to get bogged down in the minutiae and lose sight of what’s important. 3) Handle one thing at a time. Richard Sloma said, ‘Never try to solve all the problems at once – make them line up for you one-by-one.’ And if you’re facing lots of problems, make sure you actually solve the one you’re working on before moving on to the next one.
