Turning Problems into Possibilities

When you hit a problem, how do you respond? Most of us get discouraged when we run into roadblocks. It’s easy to wonder, “Did I mess things up? What if this problem is a sign that I need to stop or try something different?”

Across the Bible, God often turns people’s problems into their paths forward. To see that happen, though, it helps to take a few steps in preparation while leaning on God to guide us.

The first step is to have a destination that’s worth pursuing. So, what is that destination?

What does Jesus tell his people to do? Make disciples who make disciples.

In Matt. 28:19-20 (NLT), Jesus’ invitation was: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you….”

However, the path between us and the good that God has for us is seldom straight and rarely without barriers. So, what should we do when we hit twists and turns on the way?

The second step is to have a mindset prepared to deal with adversity and snags in the plan.

A natural response to a roadblock is: “I can’t deal with this because…” We make an excuse for why a problem is stopping us from moving forward. Our thoughts can start to circle around “I can’t because…”

If we reframe our mentality from “I can’t because…” to “I can if…”, then possibilities open up.

While this idea is stated in “A Beautiful Constraint” by Adam Morgan and Mark Barden, it’s also helpful for followers of Jesus, too.

In fact, the Bible shows us some really beautiful examples of this. In Acts, the church is very new, and suddenly they’re being persecuted. People are being arrested, and some are actually killed for their faith. The church is scattered. This is a heartbreaking, overwhelming problem.

However, we see believers who have a “can/if” mentality when they respond.

“Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them…” (Acts 11:19-21).

These believers see being forced out of their home city as an opportunity to spread the gospel. A new culture and new cities are now ways for new believers to join them and help them learn. They see diversity as a way toward partnership. And God pours out His power on these believers.

These Christians are still facing being driven out of their homes. They’re dealing with persecution and living in an unfamiliar place. But they don’t throw up their hands and say, We can’t obey Jesus’ command because of all this!

Instead, they say: This hardship won’t stop us if we go to a huge city like Antioch. It has communities from all over the world. We can obey Jesus, and the diversity of this city gives us new opportunities.

God is present with them. The church grows as God multiplies. What started with oppression and persecution and loss turns into creativity and blessing and a path forward.

God turns His people’s problems into possibilities.

What’s stopping you in your tracks with disciple-making right now?

Maybe you don’t know who you could disciple. Or you feel like too new of a believer to walk alongside anyone else. Maybe you’re convinced that you’re too young, too old, too awkward, too busy.

How could that problem transform with a ‘can/if’ mindset? How might God make this roadblock into a path forward?

Jesus calls out to us, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations!”

How will you respond with “I can, if…”?

PRAY

Thank You, God, for Your presence and attention. Please examine my heart, and reveal the places where I’ve felt despair over difficult situations. Remind me of Your power. Help me submit my problems to You. Help me to become someone who obeys your commission to make disciples. When something is standing in the way, please help me see a way forward. Change my mindset, so that I can see possibilities and hope for something better.

Dive Deeper

Discovery Bible Study is a great tool to help you easily discover Scripture. Take some time with your family or a group or friends, and discover the Word of God. Start with these three simple questions:

1. What’s another obstacle in Acts 11:19-30 that God’s people faced?

2. How did they respond in a way that turned a roadblock into a path forward?

3. How will you turn a “I can’t because…” into a “I can if…” this week?