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Problems only seem difficult when they resist simple solutions. We, of course, prefer quick and easy answers. We try the obvious solutions first. And when they fail, we can cause feelings of discouragement, despair, and even hopelessness.
Reaching victory over difficult problems requires emotional labor, ideas that feel risky, methods that might not work, and much trust in God. He rewards patience and persistence. He tests our endurance so that we can discover how much stronger in faith we’re becoming. He calls for courage and delights in us when we stubbornly refuse to give up on finding the solution that he is preparing for us.
Difficult problems are only divine solutions waiting for our attention and for God’s perfect timing.
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© 2014 by Terry A. Modica
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Yes, ma’am,
You’re right, ma’am. We must take what Jesus said literally, but the implied preconditions are that we must do our part, i. e., what has to be done by us, and which Jesus cannot do.
God only gives us the grace.
We have to do the digging.
Only after we have done our part, can God proceed to do his, for God alone cannot work (without our co-operation)
Like, salvation is a free gift.
But, it takes effect only when we do our part.
Accept it.
I see it as a partnership, not a me-first-then-God sequence of events. Using your example: The Holy Spirit works in a person’s mind and soul to inspire an interest in accepting salvation. God seeks the lost and calls out to each person actively, never sitting idly by while waiting on the sinner to repent or the non-believer to accept Christ as Savior.
Faith and reason work hand in hand. We cannot take the Word of God too literally.
It cannot be understood to mean that we should leave it all and entirely upon God.
Worry to some extent and degree helps to prepare us take practical steps and action in the given situation.
The Word of God applies only and only when we have done our maximum possible that we can humanely do, that which falls within the realm of reason, and only then, after we have done everything we can possibly do within our human competence, and the problem stays unresolved, then, only is it justifiable to take recourse to trusting God, for God only helps those that help themselves.
By no means, can we be foolhardy believing everything God will provide. God will provide to the extent that we are, by implication, doing our part.
It is, indeed, foolhardy, to, in the name of faith, to leave everything (upon God), without making the necessary endeavors on our part, to remedy the situation, to the extent possible, which is within our endeavours.
Faith has to be used intelligently, not blindly.
As said before, FAITH WORKS WITH REASON,
You are correct, I agree that we must do everything we can and not just pray and wait for everything to fall into place without effort from us. However, everything that Jesus said must be taken literally or else we run the risk of recreating the Gospel in our own image and preferences. But to really understand his meaning, it is necessary to study the Bible as a whole and in light of 2000+ years of Church teachings, doctrine, the wisdom of Saints, etc.
Speaking from my own experiences, I can honestly testify that worry reveals a lack of trusting God sufficiently. Yes we have to do our part. God does not work like a magic genie. But we must rely on God way more than we rely on ourselves. This includes a good relationship with the Holy Spirit so we can sense and even hear his guidance or receive visions that guide us to point the way in how to handle our problems. When we do this, we have no need to worry even while going through challenges and trials that give us cause to worry. Worry is based on what we cannot yet see. Trusting God is based on what he can see that we cannot yet see.
Worry is good. It invigorates the mind.
Do Not Worry (Matthew 6, quoted from NIV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.