God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems #56
Welcome to God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems podcast. This is podcast #56.
My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Ordained Chaplains USA and Life coach. We don’t have to look far to see that many people in the world are dealing with a variety of problems and are in need of solutions. No matter what problem you are facing — whether it is emotional, psychological or spiritual — Jesus Christ holds the solution that you need. As we walk together in this podcast, we will address a number of topics that exist in the world and present solutions from the Bible that will help you heal and live life more abundantly. Our aim in this podcast is: (1) to introduce you to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of all healing; (2) to provide you with information that will help you to understand the problem; and (3) to help you by providing solutions to your problems.
Our passage from the Word of God today is Romans 8:28. It reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Allow me to share with you some interesting points on this passage from Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
The concurrence of all providences for the good of those that are Christ’s. It might be objected that, notwithstanding all these privileges, we see believers compassed about with manifold afflictions; though the Spirit makes intercession for them, yet their troubles are continued. It is very true; but in this the Spirit’s intercession is always effectual, that, however it goes with them, all this is working together for their good. Observe here.1. The character of the saints, who are interested in this privilege; they are here described by such properties as are common to all that are truly sanctified. (1.) They love God. This includes all the out-goings of the soul’s affections towards God as the chief good and highest end. It is our love to God that makes every providence sweet, and therefore profitable. Those that love God make the best of all he does, and take all in good part. (2.) They are the called according to his purpose, effectually called according to the eternal purpose. The call is effectual, not according to any merit or desert of ours, but according to God’s own gracious purpose.2. The privilege of the saints, that all things work together for good to them, that is, all the providences of God that concern them. All that God performs he performs for them. Their sins are not of his performing, therefore not intended here, though his permitting sin is made to work for their good. But all the providences of God are theirs—merciful providences, afflicting providences, personal, public. They are all for good; perhaps for temporal good, as Joseph’s troubles; at least, for spiritual and eternal good. That is good for them which does their souls good. Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a tendency to the spiritual good of those that love God, breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, fitting them for heaven. Work together. They work, as physic works upon the body, various ways, according to the intention of the physician; but all for the patient’s good. They work together, as several ingredients in a medicine concur to answer the intention. God hath set the one over against the other: synergei, a very singular, with a noun plural, denoting the harmony of Providence and its uniform designs, all the wheels as one wheel, Eze. 10:13 . He worketh all things together for good; so some read it. It is not from any specific quality in the providences themselves, but from the power and grace of God working in, with, and by, these providences. All this we know —know it for a certainty, from the word of God, from our own experience, and from the experience of all the saints.
Our quote for today is from Warren Wiersbe. He said, “The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.”
The problem we are discussing today is “Discouragement” (part 1) from the book, “The Guide to Biblical Counseling” by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Ron Hawkins.
PORTRAITS
- Mark has worked two jobs most of his adult life just to make ends meet. He has three children and a wife who works in the home and has a part-time job outside the home. Recently Mark lost the higher paying of his two jobs. If that weren’t enough, their older son was suspended from school the same week for having drugs in his possession. Mark blames himself for not being at home enough.
- Lila is a young woman who has been out of college and in the workforce for almost five years. All her college friends are married, and she longs for a husband and family. This is all she has ever dreamed of. She had a relationship for almost seven years with a Christian high school sweetheart. She blames herself for the breakup, and wonders, What if? She sits at home most nights alone in her tiny apartment. A married friend is worried sick about her and doesn’t know how to help her.
DEFINITIONS AND KEY THOUGHTS
- Discouragement is a feeling of despair, sadness, or lack of confidence. A discouraged person is disheartened. Three underlying causes contribute to discouragement:
— lack of confidence in ourselves
— lack of confidence in God
— lack of hope for the future
- Because discouragement is a feeling or emotion, it can play games with our minds. We must learn how to control our minds, and thus our discouragement, and lean on God for strength.
- Joshua was challenged with discouragement as he led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. God told Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage”.
- God also reminded Joshua that the key to overcoming discouragement was a personal relationship with Him. The Lord told Joshua: “This Book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
- Discouraged people often blame themselves or God and ask, What if…? This is Satan’s trap, his way of trying to have us think, I blew it or God isn’t capable.
- God has a much bigger picture for our lives than we could ever imagine. Challenges along the way are God’s way of refining us, preparing us for the bigger and better picture–the first prize.
- If not dealt with, discouragement can lead to depression, which can stop people in their tracks. People must be taught how to deal with discouragement before it becomes depression.
- Discouragement reveals an unwillingness to trust God. It can be dealt a deathblow when people consistently cast all their cares on God.
- Discouragement can be caused by many different circumstances and feelings:
— shouldering one’s own worries, cares, and fears; then collapsing under the weight
–out of control events
–circumstances that were within one’s control but were handled poorly
–failure–either occurring in the present, in the past, or a perceived potential for failure in the future
Hudson Taylor said, “There are three stages in the work of God: Imposible; Difficult; Done.”
In our next broadcast, we will continue looking at the problem of Discouragement.
—–PRAYER—–
Now, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you need further coaching please visit our website at: http://www.ordainedchaplainsusa.org.
If you have other questions about life’s problems for this podcast, please email us coach@ordainedchaplainsusa.org.
Until next time, my friend remember that God has a solution to all of your problems.
BCNN1 WP 