Problems - and the peace that passes understanding

A message about having peace in the face of problems, shared by Pastor John Warwick at a men's breakfast in Empower Christian Church, Saturday 13 February, 2010:

We have all been shaped in some way by problems. We dream about having no problems.

It is something that is difficult, causing pain and grief. A problem can be self-inflicted or not one's fault.

They are inevitable and unwanted. We are not wired for problems.

The wind that affected the disciples in the boat was not caused by Jesus. In fact, He used the same word of rebuking when also rebuking Satan elsewhere.

The sooner we deal with the persistence of problems, the sooner we can deal with our attitude towards them. It is better to gear oneself for problems. Soldiers, for example, gear for problems in combat, well prepared and armed.

Those things that hurt, instruct us, according to Benjamin Franklin. In fact, no problem can defeat us. The attitudes defeat us rather than the problems.

A bad attitude will result in eating away at us, placing fear and insecurity in our lives, producing sickness in body and mind. It will rob sleep and add worry and anxiety.

There is a way to not allow problems to affect our peace of mind. We cannot always control what happens around or to us. But we can control what happens in us.

Peace of mind does not solve problems.

In the face of a storm, Jesus was focused on getting to 'the other side'. Jesus spoke 'peace' to the storm and to the disciples. It actually terrified them. He showed how the storm couldn't play with their minds.

We're actually not wired to worry. The worry factor is actually the
distracting factor. Worry produces fear.

The Bible works. Jesus has given me His peace. It is the peace that passes understanding. It is beyond rationalising.

Refuse to worry about problems. It is okay to care, but not to worry.

We do have peace. Reach in and say you will not worry. It takes time to reframe your thinking.

Have faith in the Word of God. Find solace and comfort in Jesus and believe in His promises. Claim His peace in faith. Centre in God's words. Attack the problem, not the person. Gather together the facts, list the solutions. Never withhold love. Never let the problem control you.

Praise God in the midst of problems.

NOTE: Image sourced from http://www.heartlight.org; image by Phil Ware, Heartlight.org