What To Do With Problems

What’s up? I’m sure a lot. Probably doing some shopping, maybe a lil baking, wrapping up some year end work, wrapping gifts, prepping for a great start to 2012. Good stuff. Glad to hear. Hopefully though, you’re taking some time to enjoy and celebrate this season of Christmas and reflect on a couple of things. The first and most important point is, of course, the birth of Jesus Christ. The fact that God Himself took the form of man to leave His kingdom in heaven to come here and save our lost souls. To die for our sins. If anything, reflect and celebrate that these holiday season. And secondly, I have another thing for you to not only reflect on regarding this past year, but something for you to use moving forward. It has to do with *PROBLEMS*. We all face them. I faced a truckload of them this past year. I can’t tell you how many times I was brought to my knees. I could tell you about how my wife and I dealt with a miscarriage, how I just lost a family pet I grew up with, about several big business deals that fell apart, and much more. I’m sure you can tell me about a lot of problems or troubles you faced this past year as well. Anyways, we sometimes run into problems. Other times they find us. I know you can relate here. So, what’s your point Ron? Great question. The answer. Well, I actually have 5 of them. I recently learned this from Rick Warren and it has caused a personal breakthrough for me. I now look at problems in a completely different light and know you will too. As Rick mentions, God uses problems for 5 reasons. 1. Direct God uses problems to direct us. Sometimes we’re on the wrong path. Or perhaps God has an even better path He wants us on. Ask yourself, “Where is God trying to lead me?” 2. Inspect A lot of life is a test. How committed are we? Sometimes our best qualities are revealed in times of crises. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of our potential until we’re put under fire. Ask yourself, “What is God trying to reveal about me?” 3. Correct We never stop learning. Only a wise man realizes how little he knows. Instead of asking “Why”, ask, “WHAT is God trying to teach me?” 4. Perfect Understand that problems aren’t really the problem. It’s your response to the problem that’s the problem. Ask, “How can I grow from this?” 5. Protect Other times a problem we encounter might be protecting us encountering an even greater more disastrous problem. Inquire, “How is this problem protecting me?” So, as I mentioned, as you look back over 2011 I’m 100% positive that these 5 ideas and questions will help you to re-frame some of the issues you’ve ran into. I know you will walk away with some new insight and lessons learned. As well, looking to 2012, please not only remember these 5 ideas when you are surely faced with you’re next problem, but apply them. Just imagine your problems transforming into tools that help you. Here’s a memory tool – remember DICPP (direct, inspect, correct, perfect, protect). And they all kinda rhyme, so it should be easy. Got it? Good. Hope this helps. And by all means, please share with us and your fellow readers any insights you discover when applying these. We can all learn from each other. God bless, Ron Kawatsky P.S. If you’re not familiar with Rick Warren. Get familiar with him. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, is a must read and is responsible for turning my life upside down (in a good way of course). ”Life is a school and problems are the curriculum.” – Rick Warren