4 Verses That Will Change The Way You Handle Problems
As followers of Jesus, what should we do when faced with trials? The Bible is full of stories that can help answer this question, but one that we might not hear as often is found in Isaiah 22. In this section of Scripture, God tells us exactly what we need to do when problems inevitably come our way.
Isaiah 22 shows us God’s prophecy about an impending military attack that’s making its way toward Judah. Basically, war is on Judah’s doorstep and they have to make a game plan…Verses 8-10 reveal all the ways Judah started to prepare for this war…
They built a reservoir to store up water (verse 9)
They gathered weapons (verse 8)
They strengthened their walls (verse 9-10)
All of these things are what they should have done to get ready for the threat that was coming their way, but they missed one crucial, lifesaving step…They didn’t ask God for help.
Judah probably thought they were doing all the right things, and by the world’s standards, they were. However, in verse 11, we see God directly calling them out for their mistake:
“You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.” –Isaiah 22:11
The people of Judah had access to the one and only true God, the God who could single-handedly win this battle for them, the God who longed to help them in big ways. All they had to do was ask, but they turned to self-reliance instead.
I see a lot of myself in the way Judah reacted to the threat coming their way. When troubles arise in my own life, whether tangible problems or anxious thoughts that threaten my peace, I tend to immediately get to work on how to get rid of them. I turn inwards to my own set of limited resources rather than turning to God who has unlimited resources and the deepest desire to fight for me.
What about you? Where do you turn when trouble knocks at your door? Do you go to God before doing anything else or do you opt to take things into your own hands first?
Judah in Isaiah 11 is a powerful reminder to you and me that God is on our side and longs for us to invite Him into any and every situation. No planning, scheming, preparing, or panicking could ever accomplish what He can in our lives. Our job is to place our hope and confidence in our God first and foremost, and then we can follow His guidance and proceed with peace as we deal with problems.
This message of God desiring to help and fight for us isn’t an isolated situation, but rather, it’s a constant theme throughout the Bible. Exodus 14:14 is just one of the passages that echoes the same sentiment:
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14
Next time we face a problem, before we take any action on our own, let’s invite God into the equation and rest in the fact that the Creator of the universe goes behind and before us (Isaiah 52:12).
