By Dr. Rebekah McCloud
There’s a Clorox commercial of a young boy running to the bathroom only to get there and is unable to open his belt. He calls out, “Mom, we have a situation.” How often have we found ourselves in a situation: a difficult situation, sticky situation, dangerous situation, bad, embarrassing, stressful, or crazy situation? Who do we call? Do we call out “God, we have a situation?”
Pastor Rick Warren says God uses our situations in five ways: to direct us, inspect us, correct us, protect us and perfect us. [1] I liked what he said, but I put my own twist on it.
First, God uses our situations to direct us. His intervention is like a rudder on a ship. He helps us to change our ways or our path. He lights a fire under us or gives us a wakeup call. In the end, He wants to lead us to a higher level of trust in Him. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Amen.
Second, God uses our situations to inspect us. I read that, “people are like tea bags, if you want to know what’s inside of them, just drop them into hot water!” [2] I also read that, “people can be like canned food without a label; if you want to know what’s inside, just open them up!” [3] When we are in a situation, on close exception, what will God find in our lives? Will he find a people who focuses on or God instead of our situation? Will he find a people who tells our God how big our situation is or will He find a people who tells our situation how big our God is? We serve an awesome God and should always be able to tell him “we have a situation.” Amen.
Third, God uses our situations to correct us. Sometimes we can be some contrary people. We know what God expects from us. He has gifted us all with at least one talent and he makes it possible for us to have all that we do (great or small). Yet, we sometimes fail to deliver. We fail to use our time, talent, money and resources to further the kingdom. I’m so glad that failure is transitory and that failure is not a person; it’s an event. If we hold to God’s unchanging hand, he will lead us to turn failure into success. Isaiah 42:16 says he, “will lead the blind along a path they never knew to places where they have never been before. I will change darkness into light for them. I will make the rough ground smooth. I will do these things for them; I will not abandon my people.” If he does it for them, I know he’ll do it for me. Amen.
Fourth, God uses our situations to protect us. Thank God, he does not see situations they way we do. Dr. Richard Krejcir[4] says, “Where we see stress, He see opportunities. Where we see crisis, He sees growth and betterment.” The song says, “God is the joy and the strength of my life. He removes all pain, misery and strife. He promised to keep me, never to leave me. He’ll never, never fall short of his word.” I’m so glad we can call on the Lord when we have a situation. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Finally, God uses our situations to perfect us. Situations help us to build character, to build strength and to build understanding. The perfection process is not easy. A chuck of coal is turned into a diamond under pounds of pressure. It becomes a sparkling, perfect gem by the deft hands of a master jeweler. We are the coal and God is the jeweler. To be perfected, we need only trust him and take our situations to the Lord and leave them there. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” And, Isaiah 26:3 tells us that God, “will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Having a situation does not mean God is not with us. He’s always with us and always working for our good. No matter what we call him—Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shalom, Elohim, El Shaddai, Comforter, Savior, King of Glory, Almighty, Bread of Life, Master, Rose of Sharon, Good Shepherd, Counselor, Deliverer, Spirit of Truth, Great High Priest, Strong Tower, Bright and Morning Star, Lamb of God, I Am that I Am, Friend, Hiding Place, Prince of Peace, Horn of Salvation, Wheel in the middle of a wheel, Redeemer, Alpha and Omega, God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Ghost—no matter what we call him, let’s remember to call God when we have a situation. Amen.
Note: Scriptures are from the new International Version of the Bible.
[1] Rick Warren (2018). God’s Purpose Behind Your Problems. Found at http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/gods-purpose-behind-your-problems
[2] Rick Warren (2018). God’s Purpose Behind Your Problems. Found at http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/gods-purpose-behind-your-problems
[3] Richard Krejcir (2016). God Really Does Have a Purpose Behind Your Problems! Found at http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=37254
[4] Richard Krejcir (2016). God Really Does Have a Purpose Behind Your Problems! Found at http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=37254
4/22/18