The Terminix rep sat at my kitchen table. “I have good news and not-so-good news,” he said.
Gulp. I braced myself. I called him because I had some bites that could be from those pesky insects. And since I travel often, they could have hitched a ride in my suitcase.
“Good news,” he said, “you don’t have bedbugs. But not-so-good news is we inspected, and you have no protection against termites.”
Yikes! Forget the bedbugs. Termites that could eat up my house are a bigger problem and a greater threat. I signed up for their plan faster than you can say “bugs.”
Isn’t that like life? We drown in tears because of an ugly situation, painful and unexpected. But God is in the background, using that very situation to work something beautiful. He’s using it as a path to bring about greater changes, and before you know it, that problem was a blessing in disguise.
Five Ways
Here are five ways God might be crafting that transformation:
- When relationships fall apart, God may not restore and heal. Instead, He might be in the process of a makeover of our heart. He might be cleaning stuff that tainted our life. He might be pointing ways to increase our wisdom and preparing us for something lasting and real.
- When our children grow up and grow distant, following the wrong path, rather than bringing them back when we expect, our freedom might be what God has prepared instead. The freedom from worry by surrendering each child to Him and placing them in His capable hands.
- When financial problems don’t end, God might not wipe out our debt, but might invite us to bring to Him the first fruits of our labor and to see how much He can provide.
- When life’s losses devastate us, God might not bring back what we lost, but increase our dependence on Him to receive His comfort and peace.
- When the doctor gives us bad news, God’s healing might not happen yet. Instead, He might be working in us a deeper trust, a genuine confidence in Him and boldness to believe He has the answers when doctors don’t.
God Has Answers That Are Eternal
Difficult circumstances demand solutions that are temporary, but God has the answers that are eternal. “Our light affliction, which lasts but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
Each problem is a blessing when we look for the lesson. When we hear His message. When we appreciate the change. And when we believe that, in Christ there is no problem without a purpose. No sorrow without His comfort, no setback without a solution and no tragedy without His triumph.
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You for showing me to look beyond the circumstance and see Your mighty hand at work to bring greater things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Which of your problems can be turned to a blessing for you? {eoa}
Janet Perez Eckles is an international speaker and the author of four books. She has helped thousands conquer fear and bring back joy.
This article originally appeared at janetperezeckles.com.
