Q:
I know you often tell people in your column that God can help them with their problems, but how does He do it? Does He suddenly step in and solve everything if we ask Him to? It sure hasn't happened with me.
A:
Sometimes God does step in and suddenly solve a problem we’re having, as we commit it to Him and seek His help—but not always. When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for his faith in the city of Philippi, God intervened and that night an earthquake shattered the jail’s doors—but on other occasions he endured lengthy prison terms. (See Acts 16:22-36; Philippians 1:12-14.)
How does God help us when we face problems and troubles? First, He reminds us that we are never alone if we know Christ. When we commit our lives to Jesus, God adopts us into His family, and we become His children forever. More than that, God also comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit, assuring us of His love and giving us hope for the future.
In addition, God also gives us wisdom to deal with our problems. All too often we frantically look around for solutions—but we never turn to God or His people or to the Bible to find His wisdom. God’s promise is clear: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously … and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Finally, even when our problems persist, God can give us the patience and strength we need to endure them. Life isn’t perfect; no matter who we are, we all have problems. But isn’t it better to face them with God than without Him? Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and then learn to commit your problems to Him every day.