`But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God – Acts 20-24

Have you ever wondered why some people with huge problems whistle through life while others with smaller problems are constantly in despair? From counseling many people that deal with problems including ourselves, we’ve noticed that how you handle problems determine whether or not you whistle through life or find that every problem puts you in despair. We have noticed in our own personal lives that often it’s not always our problems that is the problem; it’s usually our attitudes towards our problems that is the problem. It’s how we think, act and feel about our problems that either keeps us stuck or keeps us going around in circles trying to get out of the problems.  What about you? Have you noticed that when you are going through a problem your attitude may not be what it used to be? Have you noticed that you don’t feel as good when you are having to deal with so many problems? It is hard not to allow problems to steal your joy, your focus and alter your attitude especially when you may find like we’ve found that some of our problems are so terribly awful, it’s a battle to keep a positive attitude.  But what you cannot change, God will give you the Grace to overcome or He will intervene and change it. That’s why Paul said in Acts 20-24, “None of these things move me”.

Let’s take a look at a man who had a less than desirable attitude about his problems. This man had a yard full of dandelions that he thought were problems. He had tried everything and still could not get rid of them. Finally, in frustration he wrote a letter to the Department of Agriculture, explaining all the different dandelions deterrents he’d tried and asked them what they thought he should do next. The answer came back from the department of agriculture: “Try getting used to them! “Now that may not be what the man wanted to hear, but often times that’s the truth”. Sometimes you just have to get used to what’s causing you problems and leave it in the hands of almighty God knowing that He will deal with it and settle what is causing you problems in His own time and in His own way.

Unfortunately, life is not like television – You often can’t switch to another channel in your life just because you don’t like what is playing on the current channel in your life which may be problems. You too may have some dandelions in your life that you can’t get rid of, but it doesn’t mean that you have to let them mess up your whole life or change or alter your attitude. A problem free world does not exist.  Everybody everywhere has problems. It is the battles in life that produce the victories in life and the victors! 2 Corinthians 4:8 states you may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in total despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed! So essentially God will either change your circumstances or He’ll change you while you are going through your problems. Either way, He will bring you out on top, so don’t let whatever nagging problems you currently face hold you down, hold you back or mess up your life! Choose to be like us and keep a positive attitude, full of hope and expectancy that God can and God will intervene at just the right time to solve and change your problems! So go ahead, run your race with excellence and integrity, choose to finish your course with God filled with a sense of new hope and joy expecting God to help you defeat your problems! Keep going forward with God and run your race with excellence, you’ll win the battle over your problems with God’s help if you don’t give up and quit!