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Have a Problem?

Often instead of seeking God before the problem, we ask God for wisdom during the problem.
Know what we should be doing instead?
Recognize He brought the problem, not for us to solve but for us to trust Him to solve it.

Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.

It would be easier to look at God then guess what He will do!
Consider these solutions:
(Ask yourself if that would be how you would solve it.)
God used hornets to win a battle (Joshua 24:11-12).
God used a big fish to redirect Jonah. (Jonah 1:17).
God used dry fleece and wet ground to convince Gideon (Judges 6).
God used dipping seven times in the dirty Jordan to heal Naaman, the Aram king’s general (2 Kings 5)
God used manna, an unknown thing, falling from heaven, to feed the Israelites in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:16).
God brought migrating quail when they whined for meat (Exodus 16:13).
God used a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay taxes (Matthew 17:27).
God allowed Elisha’s servant to see the angelic hosts surrounding the Aram soldiers  that were surrounding him (2 Kings 6:15-23).

God solved the Israelite problems that made the nations around them recognize Him as God. 

God solves problems—for His glory.
His miracles were long remembered by those other nations who had heard about Israel's trip across the wilderness.
Those nations had time to acknowledge Him.
Most didn't want anything to do with Him, but they knew Who He was.

Search the Scriptures.
God never solved a similar problem the same way, did you notice that?
Often we think even miracles must follow a formula.
God made the rules of the universe.
He can break them at will---or re-adjust matter to make enough food to feed 5000, or solve your problem today.

You see, we look for solutions to our problems the way we would fix them.
When we look to God, He brings solutions we never considered before.

That’s part of looking for God in everyday things, like we talked about a few weeks ago. 
That’s recognizing His sovereignty. 
He’s in charge.
Of Everything!
That’s acknowledging His righteous rule.
He will make ALL THINGS RIGHT!
That’s how He demonstrates He loves us.
He wants us to ask for His help and step out of the way and watch WHAT HE WILL DO.

God is the Master at solving problems in unusual, unexpected ways.
We are good at ignoring Him and trying to solve them on our own and ask only for His wisdom.

This journey of looking for God in all things brings solutions that we did not anticipate when God solves them.
That’s what Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

That’s looking for Him before the problem, during the problem, and while it’s being solved by Him.
By doing that, we know without a doubt He solved it.
So does the watching world. 
And God is praised.


Displaying 1 comment

Such a great reminder to turn everything over to God. Right now my prayers are for Josh and Katrina with their boys and I have no idea how God will answer, but I know I cannot do anything, it can only be by His grace. Thanks for the encouragement.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
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Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.