Problems and Compassion — Broken & Hopeful

The problem isn’t the problem. That’s something Mike Wells used to say a lot. It’s easy to get distracted, though, by whatever tough situation is in front of you and figure that if you could “fix” it, then you’d be happier. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all about getting problems resolved, but not at the expense of growing in relationship with Jesus. 

Problems have a purpose, and their purpose is to draw us closer to Jesus and allow us to realize that we need His Life for dealing with them. When I treat them as burdens that need to be sorted out, I miss Jesus calling me to Himself. I miss casting my burdens on Him. 

We don’t grow in a deepening relationship with people if we go hide out every time there is a problem and don’t allow them into our lives in vulnerability. With God, it is the same. When we push Him away and decide we need to figure this out ourselves before we reapproach Him, we miss the sweetness of the shared struggle. And we miss the power of His Life within us to handle the issue.

I talk about looking up and past whatever seems to be dominating my thoughts, away to Jesus in His tenderness and compassion. He never forsakes us in the middle of a problem, and you are never without hope. 

I wonder if instead of working to get out of the problem as soon as we find ourselves in it, we could take a minute to look away past the problem to Jesus to remember His incredible love and faithfulness even in the situation. He isn’t absent or trying to make you miserable by allowing the difficult circumstance, but rather He is calling you to Himself. 

In many difficult situations I have experienced in my life, I know that when I really get down to it, I would not give up the experience of the sweetness of relationship with God in the middle of whatever hardship it was. No, I don’t seek out difficulty, but it is never wasted if I can seek His face in it. 

So, whatever you face today, whether it’s marital struggles, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, addiction, depression, anxiety, financial difficulty, or a thousand other problems we face throughout life—Jesus invites you to Himself with tenderness and compassion. He will comfort your heart, bring peace and remind you of hope. None of it makes sense based on the circumstance, but it’s not about making sense. It’s about growing in relationship, and we do that best when we desperately need God because we have no idea how to get out of the problem. Come to Him, move into deeper relationship and see that the problem doesn’t have to define your life. 

Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy. Philippians 2:1