If You Are Faced With A problem, By Pastor Peter Norris.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, WHAT DO YOU DO?
The answer to such a question may be obvious, as for example, in the following statements. (to name a few)
A household appliance goes wrong – look at the manual or call a technician or a repair person.
You are seriously unwell – seek medical help.
Your car has broken down – contact a garage.

So, whatever the problem…contact the appropriate professional

We could indeed make an endless list of possible problems that occur that, to use an expression, would be ‘as long as your arm’. What do we do though with the deeper issues of life that sometimes seem to have no solution? For when we look at all the problems of life and indeed our personal problems, it is all to easy to be dragged down by them.

Certainly, there are issues like a washing machine that is beyond repair so a new one is the only solution. Also, there are problems of life we cannot fix. However, I would suggest that there is one who is there for us in our time of need. And that is Jesus.

An old hymn has the Chorus that says:
‘All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there,
Never a burden He cannot bear,
Never a friend like Jesus!

So often we as Christians hang on to our problems rather than hang onto the word of God. So let us start by reading Psalm 121.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

This Psalm reminds us that our help comes from the Lord, for there is not a situation we will find ourselves in where He will not bring support, comfort, and peace. So often our problem is that we look at the problem we face rather than to God. We need, rather than to tell God how big our problem is, to tell the problem how big our God is.

Let’s look at Philippians 4 verses 6 to 8

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

These verses call us not to be anxious but to commit everything to God in prayer. Someone once put it this way to me: ‘if your life is in a fix, apply Philippians 4 verse 6.”

I have commented many times that wherever we find ourselves in life, be it in contentment or struggle, GOD was GOD before it happened, He is GOD in the situation and will still be GOD after the situation. It is worth knowing that there is nothing that happens that God does not already know about.

When my wife and I faced a major crisis, a minister friend said this: “God knew it was going to happen, He knows you can get through it, so trust Him to get you through.”

There is an old Hymn that says this:
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

So as we advance into 2022, we can travel through with confidence that God travels with us, and that if we lean on and trust in Him, we will get through and be blessed along the way.