The Great Problem Solver

Among the many things we could say about God is that He is "The Great Problem Solver." To be more specific, He is the great solver of our problems. He does not have to solve His problems, as He does not have problems of His own. He knows the end from the beginning and works out all things according to His own counsel, so He is not ever surprised, confused, distressed, or in turmoil. He is, however, the One to whom we can and should turn to with any and every problem that we may have.

God solves every problem

God solves every problem.  That may not sound right at first, because we probably all have had problems that we think were not solved at all.  In a similar way that God answers every prayer, either by saying "yes," "no," or "wait," God solves every problem.  We may not like or understand God's handling of the situation, but He does handle each one in the very best way.

Removing the problem

Sometimes God will remove the problem. This is the way we like it.  One of the great stories in the Old Testament is the story of the battle of Jericho.  Jericho was a highly fortified, walled city, which would have been extremely difficult for the Hebrew people to take.  The walls of Jericho made the city very secure, which was a problem for the Hebrews.  However, as the people followed God's instructions, God took care of the problem by removing it.  God brought down the city's walls without a battle taking place, allowing the Hebrew people to overrun the city and gain a great victory.  The problem was the walls, and God solved the problem by removing them.

around the problem

There are other times, however, when God will show us a way around the problem.  He may not remove the problem, but He gives us the wisdom or insight we need to avoid the issue. An example of this is how the Lord spoke to the Magi who had come to find Jesus at the time of His birth.  They had seen King Herod on the way to find Jesus, and Herod had told them to come back and report to him when they found Jesus, so he could also go and worship Jesus.  Herod had no intention of worshipping Jesus but instead wanted to kill Him. This was a problem, and even a bigger problem was the Magi did not even know Herod's true intentions.  In this case, God did not remove Herod, nor did He remove Herod's intentions or his command to the Magi.  However, God did solve the problem by instructing the Magi in a dream to travel home by another route to avoid Herod altogether.  He showed them a way around the problem.

through the problem

Finally, God will sometimes choose to take us through the problem, using it positively in our lives. This is God taking an obstacle and turning it into a stepping stone to something better for us.  In the Old Testament, Joseph had many problems.  He was sold into slavery, lied about and thrown into prison, and was forgotten by the one he had helped, causing him to remain in prison.  God did not remove the problems Joseph had, nor did He show Joseph any way to avoid those problems.  Instead, God led him through the difficulties he faced.  God was a sustaining presence for Joseph throughout all the struggle and used the trials to refine and prepare Joseph for his life's work.  Joseph rose to a leadership position second only to the Pharaoh, and God used him to save the nation and many others, including his own family, from a severe famine.  God took care of the problem by taking care of Joseph as he went through the problem.

God is the Great Problem Solver

All of these ways of God handling problems are good.  Some are more dramatic than others, and some may be easier than others. Often the difficult solution of God taking us through the problem is the most beneficial, even though it may be the hardest.  Two things are certain:  God is The Great Problem Solver, and He knows the best solution for every problem!