Responding to Problems and Pain

All Christians experience problems and pain. If we are serving the Lord to the best of our knowledge, problems and pain are sent to us to save us from worldliness, the lusts of the flesh, and self-will. Whether we profit from our many tribulations depends on how we respond to them.

First of all, we need to understand that our chastening is not going to last longer than necessary. There is going to come an end to our pain. Notice this in the above verse.

"After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

The Lord wounds and then the Lord binds up. This is the way God works with us. The wonderful manner in which God binds us up certainly makes the wounding desirable!

There will come an end to your problems. Just don't quit! The worse mistake you can make is to quit. Then the Lord has no way of bringing you through your problems. Remain in the race. Stay in the fight.

The following are some prayers that are helpful when you are going through a siege of problems and pain:

"Lord, help me to keep my heart right, to respond correctly in my personality in this distress."

If we are to profit from our chastening we must not blame the tools God uses, or become angry with God or people, or retreat in fear, or spend time rebuking the devil (which he interprets as worship), or suppose if we had enough faith we would never suffer. It is important how we respond, if we are going to receive good from the situation. God will help us respond correctly if we ask Him. He will keep our heart steadfast in Himself if we keep praying, no matter how dark our surroundings become.

"Take out of my personality anything that is making the problem and pain worse than they need be."

Many times when we find ourselves greatly upset over a situation it is because something in our own personality is aggravating what would normally be just an unpleasant or irritating experience. We cannot blame other people if we lose our love, joy, and peace. The problem is within us. The Spirit of God will help us understand what is working in our personality that causes the uproar. The Spirit will remove the source of the unrest if we keep looking to God to help us.

"Guide me to the solution of the problem."

This is a prayer for wisdom. Christ gives us wisdom generously, if we petition Him, and does not find fault with us for asking.

"Show me what I can learn from the distressing episode or prolonged pressure."

This prayer God is more than happy to answer. The purpose of our life in the world is that we may be taught of the ways and Person of God. God loves an eager student. There is much to learn from everything we experience.

It is important that we choose to delight ourselves in the Lord in every circumstance, just as much as possible. Then God gives us the desires of our heart.

To be continued.