By Terry Hoskins, Pastor of the Family Church –
The Storm is coming
What is your response to problems? How are you handling the one you are in right now? In counseling I see a myriad of ways people approach problems. Most of them harmful. For example a person struggles with depression so he/she begins to drink to cope with the depression. In reality the person just added another problem on top of a problem that only makes the depression worse. Other approaches that I see on a regular basis in counseling include an I can handle the problem myself, or ignore the problem, or run from the problem. All three lead to more problems.
I can handle it MYSELF
The natural reaction for most of us is to fight and struggle. How well can you fight a tornado or a hurricane? Often we are shaking our fists and kicking at the wind exerting energy, not changing anything. We tell ourselves that we are making a difference when in reality the storm is still raging and getting worse.
Out of Sight out of Mind
I play peek a boo with my son, and he loves it because he actually thinks my face disappears. Many of us handle problems that way. We ignore the proverbial elephant in the middle of the room and hope that it will just leave. Problems of life do not disappear. We exacerbate the problem when we ignore them because they begin to affect other areas of our life.
The Runner
Running exerts energy, as does running from the battles that need to be dealt with. We internally begin to work harder because the pressures of yesterday’s problems compound with today’s. We finally crash, and feel overwhelmed. Avoidance complicates our life!
God is Knocking on Your Door
The problems, the trials of life that we face happen for a reason. God’s Word says, “He (God) determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26b-27, NIV) God controls where we live, and He allows the problems of life we face.
Why? So that we will look for for Him, and find Him. God will allow our world to crash in around us for our good. We need help! God’s Word says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV) God wants us to look to Him for help and support because He wants what is best for us because He does care.
Do You know Christ as Lord and Savior?
Naturally we will depend on our own strength, ignore, or run from our troubles, but God says turn to ME. If you aren’t a Christ follower than you are lost, an enemy of God. We all were living in rebellion to God, but because of His love God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to save sinner’s like us. Christ took on the wrath of God in our place by dying on the cross. And a few days later Christ rose from the dead, and now we can because of Christ’s sacrifice become a children of God through faith and repentance.
That means we believe that Christ is Lord and Savior and we turn to Him in obedience. We recognize that we have been our own god and we turn to Christ in submission, trusting Him as Lord and Savior.
If you are in need of biblical counsel please call Oasis Counsel at 389-2073.