Why problems happen

Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:50 am

Or... "why does my net keep going down?"

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you -- depending on
how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God
wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and
resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they
might bring. Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

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." Proverbs 20:30

God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags... if you want to
know what's inside them, just drop them in hot water! Has God 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

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

God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing is disguise if
it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a
friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had
asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem -- but it saved him from
being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions
were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good..." Genesis 50:20

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.

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:55 am

It's funny, that little poem/prayer at the end. 'God, make me this'. 'God, change me this way'. I briefly worked with a born again years ago who was a lazy ass with little ambition. He claimed he was waiting for God to tell him what to do. Pretty pathetic, I think.

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:56 am

Well some people think God will do EVERYTHING for them, which isin't true.

It's like the story of a guy on top of his house and the flood waters are rising and he prays for help but denies all the boats coming his way since "god will send me help".

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:04 am

Yeah, those kinds of people bother me. I think they believe that being 'delivered' from some bad situation requires something miraculous, not mundane, human solutions, like hopping into a boat that comes by!

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