“You’ve got a problem? That’s good!” Lately I’ve been reading different kinds of inspiring and faith-building books and one of them is a classic entitled Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by two great authors, W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill. The title of this blog is a phrase from their book which really caught my attention because though it was written couple of decades ago its truth still rings true to us today. We all face problems. Period. Different levels, different fronts. We have problems big and small. Problems in our past, in our present and even in our future. As long as we are alive, we will be having problems and we cannot avoid them. We may run away from them, but they will hunt us. We may ignore our problems but it doesn’t mean they’re gone. So better face them. It’s been said that: “It’s only hard to face the problem if the problem is your face!” And I would say that if you cannot face your ‘face’ problem, break that mirror! Kidding aside, Rick Warren, author of the best selling book Purpose Driven Life said, “Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one right now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one.”
So you’ve got problems now? That’s good, I have too. But let me encourage you why having problems is still a good thing:
Problems are opportunities, depending on how we see them. They are either stumbling blocks or stepping stones. They can make or break you as a person. They can make you better or bitter, it’s your choice. Problems can be a wind beneath your wings that would cause you to soar high like an eagle. By the way, eagles love to fly facing the storm, it makes them stronger and mightier. Problems can destroy you or they can develop you to become the best that you can be. Problems are like storms but they are not permanent. Storms just pass by, they don’t stay forever, regardless of how fierce the winds. As long as you are still here, there is always hope. You can always get up, rise up and move forward in life. Just hold on and endure what you are going through.
Og Mandino, a very well known inspirational and best selling author who once was broke and had been to the lowest point of his life. He even thought of committing suicide to end his misery but by deciding not to he overcame all his problems and became a great motivator of millions of his readers. Let me quote him saying, “These words, passed down from ancients, will carry me through adversity and maintain my life in balance. These four words are: This too shall pass. I will laugh at the world. For all worldly things shall indeed pass. When I am heavy with heartache I shall console myself that this too shall pass; when I am puffed with success I shall warn myself that this too shall pass. When I am strangled in poverty I shall tell myself that this too shall pass; when I am burdened with wealth I shall tell myself that this too shall pass. Yea, verily, where is he who built the pyramid? Is he not buried within its stone? And will the pyramid, one day, not also be buried under sand? If all things shall pass why should I be of concern for today?”
So you’ve got a problem now? That’s good, for that too shall pass. Lastly and best of all encouragement I would like to tell you today is what Jesus said to those who are facing difficulties in life that make them feel weary, exhausted and about to give up – please don’t. Read and hear Jesus saying to you, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
So you’ve got a problem? That’s good. For God is always good. He will work all things to work together for your good, including all your problems. He promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be by your side, today, tomorrow and all the days of your life. Just trust Jesus, He’s been there, you name it – sorrow, pain, abandonment, betrayal, criticism, hurts, death and even the grave, He faced them all and came out triumphant! You can too!