Christian Living

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Circumstances are not the Problem
By Rick L King
Jan 30, 2014

"Circumstances are not the problem. When we change, circumstances automatically change as circumstances are only an issue because of the way that we view them".

This is a word that the Holy Spirit once gave to me when I was seeking an answer some time ago. I am finding that I am still trying to grasp everything that this word implies. Often we think that we could do this or that if circumstances were not keeping us from what was in our heart. The real problem is that often the Lord changes us in the middle of the problem rather than just changing the problem. I think of Paul in prison. He could have been devastated while in prison as he could not do what he was called to do. Yes he was called to preach. He could have thought that unless he got out of the prison that he had no person to preach too. I don't know if he preached while there or not. I do know the Word says that he went into praise. Because he praised, the Lord sent an angel to open the prison doors. He got what he wanted not by focusing on his circumstance. He got delivered by going into praise then the circumstance automatically changed. The problem then was with us rather than the problem being the problem. He got his eyes on the Lord and worshiped rather than looking at his captivity.

In my case, I consider that some things must change for me to enter in to what the Lord has placed in my heart. We are supposed to dominate the circumstance rather than the circumstance dominating us. In my case I seem to be in a situation where I must constantly deal with some issues. They seem to be ongoing and non-stop. I get exhausted trying to stay on top of them. Praying has been fruitless. My efforts have been fruitless. Without God giving grace and somehow enabling me to stand above these I have been rather beat up and caused to be exhausted. I use to struggle at times with the question as to why the Lord gives peace in the storm rather than just removing the storm. If the storm wasn't there then I would have been at peace. Obviously the real problem was that God needed to change me so that the storm no longer took my peace. Consider that if every time there was a problem that our peace was gone. The storms are always going to come in our lives so it is important that we learn how to not allow them to affect us. The storms cause us to change and become more Christ-like. Jesus was asleep in the boat when his disciples were falling apart. Jesus wanted to teach them to become at rest no matter the storm and just sleep in the boat like he was doing. Does that seem impossible to do? Obviously it is not as Jesus was are example.

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