Problem Solving 101

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 NLT

I learn a lot about people from watching my animals. You quickly learn when living on a hill that sound travels up the contour of the land. Consequently, while all the windows are wide open, cars on the road can sound like they are coming up our driveway. This kicks Nikos and Pan into ‘guard dog’ mode and they take off outside to chase away the perceived intruder. Sadly for them, they only have access to outside in the back of the house so they never even see the offender on the street. Particularly loud vehicles unnerve them the most and they dash off barking from time to time. All the ‘huff and puff’ is for naught.  

Pan is a little live wire. Without warning he will assume his Super Pup attitude, jump off the couch where he was just napping (aka recharging) and zoom around the house, out the doggy door, thru the puppy run and back again at the speed of (puppy) light. There is no apparent cause for this other than he seems to like it. Normally, both are found napping where the semi-lifted eye lid affords them the reassuring view that I am in sight and okay.

I know people that react to problems and life’s issues the same way. You probably do, too. There are people, maybe even one or a few of us, that instantly go into the ‘huff and puff’ mode with every (perceived or real) problem they encounter. They are blustery and work themselves into a tizzy before even knowing the facts. Then, like Pan, we have the ‘super duper over achievers’ that zip around in manic mode trying to fix things as if their mere motion, in and of itself, was a cure all. And we cannot forget the ‘ostrich people’ in this analogy. They are the ones that stick their heads in the sand to hide and/or ignore a problem out of fear and avoidance hoping it will go away and they won’t have to think about it at all anymore. If they do not acknowledge it, it must not be real. Also, can’t leave out the ‘nay-sayers’ and ‘victims’. The nay-sayers are defeating-ly negative and refuse to be encouraged. They focus on the negative, dwelling on it until nothing else has room in their realm of possibilities. The victims just react to everything going on around them, they can’t do anything, life happens ‘to’ them and nothing is ever their own fault. There are more approaches out there but not many of those are any more successful than the ones mentioned.

When we are dealing with a life-controlling problem, we may begin to think, "What's the use? I'll never overcome this. I've tried … and failed … again and again. I just don't have what it takes to get things right." I have felt like a failure in my lifetime…more than once.

And you know what? We would be right. We don't have what it takes. But we know someone who does: Jesus. And the Bible promises us that we can do all things—through Christ. If we are willing to commit our lives to him, He will give us the strength we need to do what is right. He will guide us on the right path. And He will often send other people to help us.

In order to receive this strength from Christ, we first need to admit that we need help. We need to be honest with ourselves, with Him, and with others. We need to take off our mask of self-sufficiency and get real.

Lord, I've been trying everything I know to overcome this problem, but nothing seems to work. I need—and desire—your strength and guidance. Help me to be honest about my need with others you send to help me. Help me remember that I can succeed—through Christ. In Jesus' name …