Five Ways God Uses Your Problems

“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” Psalm 119:71–72 (NLT) Life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems I face will either defeat me or develop me, depending on how I respond to them.  When most people encounter difficulty, they react impulsively or become resentful. They don’t pause to consider what benefit their problems might bring. As a result, they never see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. There are five main ways that God uses the problems in my life. I need to understand them so that, next time I face difficulty, I can be on the lookout for how God is working. God uses problems to DIRECT me. Sometimes God lights a fire under me to get me moving. Problems can point me in a new direction and motivate me to change. Is God trying to get my attention? As Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT).  God uses problems to INSPECT me. People are like teabags: If you want to know what’s inside them, just drop them into hot water! Think of when God has tested my faith with a problem? What did that problem reveal about me? James 1:2-3 says, “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” (NCV). God uses problems to CORRECT me. Some lessons I learn only through pain and failure. When I was a child, my parents  told me not to touch a hot stove. But I didn’t actually learn the lesson until I ignored their instruction and was burned. Sometimes I only learn the value of something—like health, money, or a relationship—by losing it. That was true for the author of Psalm 119: “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver” (Psalm 119:71–72 NLT). God uses problems to PROTECT me. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents me from being harmed by something more serious. Later I may be able to say like Joseph did, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20 NIV). God uses problems to PERFECT me. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders: “We know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character” (Romans 5:3-4 NLT). God is far more interested in my character than my comfort. My relationship to God and my character are the only two things I'm going to take with me into eternity.  I'm going to experience difficulties. Everyone does. When I do, I need to remember that I have a choice. I can let those difficulties defeat me, or I can choose to let God direct, inspect, correct, protect, and perfect me through them! In summary: Problems are not just obstacles but opportunities for growth. There are five ways God uses difficulties: Directing you – Problems can motivate you to change and point you in a new direction. Inspecting you – Difficulties test your faith and reveal what’s inside. Correcting you – Pain and failure teach valuable lessons we might otherwise ignore. Protecting you – Sometimes, problems prevent greater harm or danger. Perfecting you – Challenges build character and endurance, helping you grow spiritually. I need to view problems as tools God uses for my growth, and to choose how I respond: either letting them defeat me or letting God use them to refine me.