The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you---depending on how you respond to them.

Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.

Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.

People are like tea bags, if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem. What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.

Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure.

It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something, health, money, a relationship, by losing it.

"It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." Psalm 119:71-72

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.

A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem---but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, " Genesis 50:20

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.

Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort.

Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems, they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

Here's the point: God is at work in your life---even when you do not recognize it or understand it.

But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

"Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way." -Anonymous

When we get to Heaven what could be more wonderful than to be greeted by someone that says "I am so happy to see you, you know I would not be here if it weren't for you." . 2348062226124 for prayer and counseling

thanks

I believe n love God, but why is it that God seems to be far away when you are passing thru challenges, i use to wonder and ask bt never gotten answers. I feel we are most vunerable in difficult times and thats when God should be closer but its the other way round. Pls can you clarify me. Tanxs

What do you do when God seems far away from you? Here is a little story I rather like.

One night I had a dream.

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God. and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonged to me, the other to God.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of life, there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned God about it.

"God, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I noticed that during the most troublesome time in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why in the times when I needed you most, you would leave me."

God replied. "My precious precious child, I love you and I would never never leave you during your times of trials and suffering. When you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you."

Rather than quote various bible texts I thought this time a personal testimony would suffice.

In my own experience it is common for all Christians to have periods in their life where God seems far away. I think this is more true when we are successful and a bit puffed up with our own importance. At times like this I would always tend to rely on my own knowledge and strength and resources.

I made decisions a number of times to uproot my family and move from one town to another chasing promotion in my career. Invariably this caused great stress for both me and my family - buying and selling of houses, changing schools, making new friends, finding a new doctor, new clothes for climatic changes, new equipment for recreational pursuits, getting to know the support infrastructure in the new town/city, the list goes on.

Invariably too would come other problems causing stress. The main one for me was the buying and selling of houses. I was not in a good enough financial position to buy before I sold. It seemed there was always a problem with selling so that I finished up taking a loss on the old house and being behind the eight ball when buying. It usually finished up that I would have been financially better off to have just stayed where I was- even with the promotion. Others that were content to stay in one place have all finished up better off than me, financially secure in a job they can do well and easily. I finished up in a high stress management position and broke.

It was during these times of trouble brought on by my own ambition and maneuvering that God seemed more at a distance. Then I would get into trouble and in desperation seek His assistance. Only when I admitted that I had once again made a mess of things and asked God for help did things fall into place. We would pick up a suitable house at a bargain price and I would vow to never again put us in such a vulnerable position. But I did.

My whole Christian walk seems like a series of events with me heading off on my own and God letting me get into trouble to teach me a lesson and then coming to my aid. I guess you could say that pride, ambition and a lack of humility, combined in my life to create those situations when God seemed far away.

It is important to understand that it is not God that moves away from us, but us that move away from God. When this happens we can rely on Him to chasten us and bring us back. It is uncomfortable being distant from God - but that is just an illusion. It is at these times when He is carrying us - we are just not aware of it at the time.

Always remember it is not what we do that gets us to heaven, it is what Jesus did. He has promised to guide and teach us, chasten us, develop us as Christians (sanctification), and finally to lead us through the gates of the Holy City. Once we are His no one can pluck us from his hand while ever we want to remain there.

Thank you very much, i have realised where i always miss it. I'm really encouraged.