Problems: Finding the Hidden Gems WithinSample

Day 1 - Your life was designed to solve a problem

Welcome to the world of problems. I used to loathe them, but now I love them. Sounds crazy right?

I’ve gone through major problems like losing a couple hundred thousand dollars as well as minor problems such as car trouble.

When you’re in the midst of a problem, it feels tough. Minor problems can feel like major problems and major problems can feel like your life is going to end. I get it and I have felt it.

But what if I told you there were major rewards to those problems? What if the problems you are facing are filled with treasure?

What if your true purpose and passion are on the other side of that disgusting filth we call problems?

We only have a little bit of time each day to hang with each other. Therefore, I want it to count and I want you to gain insights, or what I like to call wisdom for your situation.

Ephesians 1:17 says, “that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened.”

This is my prayer for you in whatever problem you encounter right now. Whether the problem requires millions of dollars or hundreds of minutes, I want you to know, God is able and cares about you.

God created you to solve problems, period.

Even now as I type, my fingers are solving a problem. They are typing for me.

My mind is solving a problem as it creates the flow and words on this page.

My eyes are solving a problem as I am able to see what I type on my computer screen.

My ears are solving a problem as I listen to music in the background.

Everything God created about you was to solve a problem.

God gives some very clear commands in Genesis 1:28 for what he wants you to do.

'And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. '

God commands Adam to solve problems.

The command God gave to Adam continues through the entire Bible and continues through you and me.

This was where I got stuck, and maybe this is where you get stuck too.

What problems are you supposed to solve?

Why can’t God just tell you what problems to solve?

Some people know what problems they are supposed to solve and that’s great. But what if you don’t know and are unsure of where to start?

I want to share with you four things to consider as you begin to solve problems.

The first thing to ask yourself is, what makes you really angry?

What in the world or around you gets you really mad? Have you ever reflected on your anger to discover what treasure is inside?

Anger is often a sign of a problem you were created to solve. Moses was angry at the way the Egyptians treated the Israelites. This ultimately led him to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt.

David’s anger toward Goliath spurred him to confront, kill and catapult him into his destiny as the King of Israel.

Michael Jordan was cut from the high school basketball team. His anger and disappointment from that failure were the fuel he needed to engage in discipline and practice to become the greatest basketball player of all time.

Take a minute and reflect on what really angers you. Get past the idea of being angry while sitting in traffic and think about, what-angers-you.

The second thing to ask yourself is, what do you love? What do you really, really love?

Do you love being strategic? Do you love negotiating? Find out what you really love to do and that is where your wisdom will lie.

What do you love spending time doing? Where you spend your time is a sign of what you really love.

I was on a call with a client the other day and he told me, “I just love creating communities. I could do this for 12 hours a day and be fulfilled.”

He found what he loved, doubled down on it, and is solving problems for others.

The third thing to ask yourself is, what grieves you, or what hurts your heart?

Do the faces of homeless people grieve you? Do you have a heart for veterans or children in pain? Maybe it’s broken families or mental health?

Take some time to reflect on what troubles you. This is a sign of a problem you may be called to solve.

The fourth thing to ask yourself is, what are you good at? What natural talent or gift do you have and how can that solve problems?

Identifying your gifts is wisdom. This allows you to apply that wisdom and build bridges to solve more problems.

You are a problem-solving machine. As you dig into these questions and more, you will start to see the problems you were designed to solve.

In the words of Robert Schueller, “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.”

I’m rooting for you.

I’m praying with you.

God bless.

Anthony Thompson