See Negative Circumstances As Changing

A few people have said to me, "I understand what you're saying about looking for what's right. But you can't deny that there are problems! There will always be problems. How do you deal with them practically?"

Sure, there will be problems, and each problem needs to be addressed. You need to meet them head on and courageously deal with them in a way that honors God and builds biblical character. However, here's a secret that has helped me over the years: When you speak of problems, always speak of them as changing.

Someone says, "You have a problem." Your response should be, "Yes, I do, but it's changing!" Someone else says, "Well, you've got financial problems." Your answer? "Yes, but that's changing!" When someone says to you, "Hey, you have a bad marriage." You say, "Yeah, but it's changing!" When someone says, "You've got bad breath." you can reply, "Yeah but it's changing!"

When you speak of problems as changing, you see a hopeful light at the end of the darkened tunnel. This is a positive indicator that you are growing.

However, if someone says, "You've got financial problems," and you say, "Man, do I ever have financial problems! I have always had financial problems, and I will probably always have financial problems until Jesus comes," this attitude acts as a magnet, inviting depression and cynicism. It shuts down your creative problem-solving ability and causes you to freeze up, leaving you perpetually in this state of financial need.

You will see problems everywhere, but don't allow your eyes to remain focused on them. Look for answers and that's what you will see. Develop a new perspective - a fresh view of your problems. Solve them, don't dwell on them. You'll be tempted to remain in slough of despair. It feels good, sometimes, to be pitied, and many of us look for reasons to remain in our unhappy circumstances. But don't do it. 

Failure is not when you get knocked down. Failure is when you refuse to get back up. Don't hang around the swamps of despair. They will only skew your attitude and impede your resilience. Learn to bounce back quickly.

Someone once said to me, "When you go through hell, don't stop to take pictures."

I agree!