I was very challenged today by my devotional reading in Jesus Calling. The entry focused on how we approach problems when they arise. Our human tendency is to get upset. panic or worry, and become distrusting of God. We question why problems have to happen or even become angry when they do. The last thing most of us do is thank God for the difficulty and trust Him to work good out of it. Yet, that is exactly what the Word of God says.

Remember the Andre Crouch song, Through It All?

“I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.”

Do we thank God for the valleys? Do we trust that God uses EVERYTHING in our lives to bring about His good? Do we see problems as transforming possibilities?

Do we take a step and actually befriend our problems as Sarah Young (Jesus Calling) suggests. Name the problem, thank God for it and then trust God to bring good from it. She doesn’t say God will remove all our problems, but does believe that God uses all our problems to do work in us. This position is grounded in Romans 8:28–We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose (AMP).

So today, if you face a relationship problem, are you befriending the problem? Are you giving it to God and trusting Him to work it for your good? Are you trusting His wisdom? Let’s take the challenge and see what God does.