Everyone has a Problem

It dawned on me the other day that everyone we meet has some issue or situation in life that they struggle with. No person is exempt from trials, difficulties and hard situations. Having a problem is one thing every human has in common. I have always said, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” It amazes me, however, that so many people seem to think life should come easy with little stress or hardships. I have heard so many say, “I just don’t understand why I have to deal with such and such. It is just not fair.” When in our culture did we start to believe life should be easy as can be? I believe this thought process is one of the mindsets that hold people back from attaining the level of peace desired in life. “Why this?”, “Why now?”, is the wrong focal point when facing issues. A healthy mindset towards problems is key to finding peace in life. When facing problems, the best approach is to first remember that all things pass with time and remember everyone has struggles. Then, rather than asking “why” we should ask ourselves, “how”. How can I learn or grow from this? The challenges we face actually make us better humans. Challenges should make a person more patient, kind, understanding etc. I believe it is through struggles and challenges that we have the opportunity to grow the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you stay focused on the fruits and seek the positives from a given situation rather than focusing on the situation itself, you will overcome that issue with a lower level of stress and anxiety and grow more peace in your life at the same time. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3