Words of Wisdom

"God, I've got a problem"

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

What do you do when you've got a problem and you don't have an immediate solution? "Hey," you may say, "that's the story of my life; all I do is face problems."

Problems come in all sizes yet no matter how big or small, any problem can be solved. Here are the steps you could take:

Step1: Pray about the problem. I often pray, "Lord, I've got a problem-a big one that I don't know how to handle. Please help me find the solution."

Step 2: Face the issue and look for all the possible solutions you can see. This often means pausing to think, then jotting down each solution that comes to mind.

Step 3: Investigate and do research. Pick up the phone and call a trusted friend. Tell the friend what your problem is and ask, "How have you solved this problem when you've face it?" You tend to think that you are the only one in the world facing this particular difficulty when you are not.

Step 4: Focus on possible solutions. Negotiation and compromise are often necessary to get people pointed the right direction. Count the cost of each solution and weigh the relative merits of each.

Step 5: Back off from the problem if nothing comes into focus. Come back to fight it another day. Putting some distance between you and the problem allows you to rethink, refocus and be more objective.

Step 6: Learn from your problem. Someone once said that the real test of success is not the size or number of problems that confront you, but whether they are the same ones that you faced last year. We grow through difficulty. Challenges are the steps-hard as they may be-that lead upward.

Today Counts

Harold J. Sala