Good morning.  Being a Christian challenge each of us every day. So often our problems and issues overwhelm us and cause us great anguish. Whether it be problems with co-workers, problems with relatives, our jobs, or our financial or physical health, all of these can produce stress and discouragement.

How do we deal with these overwhelming issues in life? Jesus talked about the pain in this world that we will always have with us.

John 15:20 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

He also brought a message of hope and encouragement. So what do we do?

Here are some solutions that do work. I have used them all depending on the situation and I think you have used some or all of them too. I want to share them with all of you, as a common set of tools we can all share in.  It can help in our times of need. There are 4 steps that most people follow or should follow to find the valuable things:

1. Understand the issue (Solomon’s wise words)

Proverbs 15:1414 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left-hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.

We usually don’t understand a situation very well, we just don’t have enough information about the other people or what God is doing. I would encourage that if your heart is at all uncomfortable or senses there is a bigger picture then you fast and pray because any decisions or actions or inactions you make could affect you for a lifetime.

So often life happens and we just don’t realize what it is about. We form opinions mostly based on little true facts and of course we are wrong.Remember our discussion about being presumptuous.

Well, this can be the case in this instance:

I will tell you about a job I was being trained for at a regional supermarket distribution plant. This was a huge facility and I was about 20 years old working for a security firm, being an unarmed security guard. Well, as the situation would have it the security firm was in contract negotiations and was about to lose its contract so word went out. Now at that plant, there was a janitorial service looking for a guy to wash, wax and polish floors. Now the owner came to me and offered me a job and that he would train me. I had little other experience except working on farms, for grocery store and for an electronics company for a year so I accepted and agreed I would start working for him when they laid me off. He was a very kind and considerate man and spent hours training me to be the best floor buffer there. Then came time for our agreed upon start date and I had second thoughts and was excited about a fire alarm door to door sales company. I didn’t show because at that point in my life I couldn’t see God’s hand in it. I’m sure each of you could see God’s hand just by me telling the story. Well, the guy was very upset with me because I returned bad for good and he had to pull all sorts of hours and strings to fill my open position that I stood him up on.

Here was my issue: I wanted something different in life - I didn’t see how kind he was being and didn’t value it. I didn’t understand God in it either. I missed all the signs!My heart told me there was something wrong with my decision. I should have acted on that. That job could have established me for a time and set me up for the future. Instead, I spent a few years unemployed, lonely and broke.God did rescue me later but maybe if I listened to Him it would have been a better journey

We may find we are too focused on ourselves, angry with someone, snubbed by someone, or just plain abused. It really helps to ask God for understanding and wisdom. He gives it and it changes your whole life and you make much better decisions.

2. It’s Not about US – It is bigger than us! Then maybe there is help?

Others may have the same issues you have.

1. Find the sources of help. There are a myriad of social services available and often free out there, some not too Christian but many keenly interested in assisting people in need.
2. Remember that we often think we are personally targeted, and maybe our adversary really is targeting us, but sometimes it really helps to share our stories with others who feel the same and comfort them. Many people’s issues are far greater than ours when we really look at it. It’s amazing how many types of avenues God can use to help His people. You know it is astounding the many ways God finds to care for us in our times of need!
3. You feel Isolated but really you are not! Reach out pray and you will find!

Psalm 34:4 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears

Psalm 50:1515 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

3. Get tough and suck it up – I have a list of ways you can “adopt a higher purpose” (a sometimes human solution). That is why I am going to give you both the positive focus of these and potential pitfalls, as we know our adversary is always looking to influence us in our weak moments. These situations come about typically in a time of our lives when we are weak. These higher purposes as such can sometimes lead to establishing an Idol so I will highlight that for your information.

a.  Protecting a child –people like to commit to save the helpless, young, innocent. It is a noble and pure purpose that justifies our actions and motivates us. My wife likes to use this phrase for it: “When Mama Bear Comes Out”. We do have to be careful though because it can drive over-protection and coddling or breaking the rules because it’s justified….So we have to think about what we are doing and realize God is the one providing the protection, not us, meaning it’s not about US!!! It’s about God’s purpose for them. A hard thing to remember when you’re sacrificing your time, money and property to provide. I once babysat for a lady I worked with when I was in a High School work program. This lady was recently divorced or jilted by a man and fiercely protected her daughter who was 5-7 years old. I babysat this daughter and she was a challenge to deal with as she would do anything to sabotage my efforts. But this is not about me. Her mother made sure her daughter fiercely hated men as her mother did. This was no surface behavior or childlike misconception. This girl absolutely hated men and I think only tolerated me because her mother liked me a little. I was just a teenager and non-threatening to her mother so I think she saw me as harmless at that age. I tell you this story to show you that our anger, our emotions may drive us to seek revenge or absolution through our children. We can use our children as a vehicle to make us feel better but at their expense. They should never be a substitute for us giving our issues to God. We should use God. As we have said, please use God or lose God.We must have a God relationship active every day in our lives.

Phillip 4:19 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalm 54:4 Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

2. Walking a higher road (religion) - Many of us started with this road as a solution to the problems, issues and lack of purpose we see in this world and then we ended up here seeing the message of truth and hope driving us. It gives us a higher purpose to live and we can forget or wash away some of the pain seeing we have a higher goal.

If not watched it can also make us extremely self-righteous and as we discussed previously here in Hartford, there are tools you can use with God to help detect and expose these kinds of issues.

We can’t wear our religion on our sleeves. People see through that. We have to LIVE our religion and people see that and wonder or respect and are curious as to who and what we are.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Matt 5:16 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

3. Saving someone’s or your own life from destruction, injury or death - This can be a great motivator to be dedicated too, like some of these other High Purpose drives we wash away our pain, justify our actions as being righteous and feel we are above reproach and others can’t really affect us. We care for loved ones, older relatives and others who may not have the ability to detect their own needs for care. We consider this a sacred mission and do anything necessary to “save” that person. Again, it is God who “saves”. We are sometimes not directly involved or are just the instrument HE uses. We have to be careful not to develop righteous indignation as a result. It is important to place the other person and all efforts you are doing in God’s Hands, not on our own.

My life was saved once when I was a boy scout. We went to Scarborough Beach in Rhode Island. The beach was beautiful and had long jetties of rocks that formed breakwaters that went out a couple hundred feet from shore. It was a hot day and we were there to swim. The water was choppy, especially around the rocks of the breakwaters. There were a lot of rocks. We were told not to swim near them but as teenagers do, I, of course, drifted near the breakwater. The waves were stronger than I expected and I was drawn towards the rocks and grew tired keeping myself afloat. A couple times waves washed over me and I raised my hand and was barely conscious of the fact that I yelled for help as I bobbed under the water and tried to stay afloat. One of the Scout Leaders came running out into the water towards the rocks, I was half his size and really appreciated his firm grip on my hand and then dragging me through the water and rocks to shore. His sensing of my issues and immediate response I’m sure saved my life. A few more minutes and I would have been out of sight of the shore behind the rocks.

But do you want to know something I noticed about Mr. Stone after he rescued me? He didn’t dance around the beach pounding his chest saying I did it I did it! No, None of that. He checked me out for damage and then simply and quietly went about his business as if NOTHING happened. He never mentioned it after and it seemed like he felt it was just what he was supposed to do that day. Or, as we would say, it is what we do!

We have to remember God Saves and if we are the instrument HE uses then it really is just “What We Do”!

Psalm 68:20 Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.

Job 14:55 Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits so that he cannot pass.

4. Live for the Future: Here the pain in our lives cause us to transport ourselves from the present to the future period we hope for. Today’s issues you tolerate for the futures gain. In some ways, we Christians ransom our present for the hope of the future Kingdom. This process again provides a kind of shield against today’s issues but again doesn’t build in us a daily God relationship – except when we cherish the hope of the coming Kingdom and we activate God in our lives daily to get there.

Luke 18:29 29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

Heb 13:5 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He, Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[a]

5. Jobs that save or have an altruistic purpose: Being a doctor or nurse or firefighter or EMT or police officer etc. etc., these kind of jobs drive a higher purpose to your job making it a priority because your  patients need you, because when that horn goes off it is time to drop everything and go into emergency mode. Special Education, dealing with handicapped or autistic children; these types of jobs can provide immense satisfaction in satisfying a purpose in life. Issues and problems can melt away with this kind of purpose.

4. Allow the time it takes - to learn the lesson God gives us you know He is the master potter and is shaping us for use in His Kingdom and His Plan! We have to be patient and God will work His Will. Look to Him for hope and sustaining faith! Seek to understand and carry out God’s Will

Isaiah 64:8 8 But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Romans 8:38-39  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.