by Steve Klein<\/p>\n
Do you tend to have problems that no one else has? If so, this article is for you. And it might surprise you to learn that I know what your problem is. Your problem is that you think your problems are unique, and your perspective is preventing you from getting the help you need to solve your problems. After all, if no one else has ever had your problems, then no one else could possibly help you solve them. Right? In fact, if no one has your problems, then no one can really even understand your problems. In which case, you would be perfectly justified to continue to tell yourself that “no one understands me” or “no one else knows what I’m going through” or “I can’t beat this” or “there’s no way out.” That would all be correct IF no one else has your problems. But they do.<\/p>\n
This realization contains tremendous problem-solving power. If others have been through what you are going through, then a number of things are true.<\/p>\n
The world’s chief problem causer is Satan. And while he certainly delights in trying to make your life miserable, he has other fish to fry as well. Surely we can understand that the devil is working just as hard on everyone else as he is on you and me. The apostle Peter counsels us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world<\/em>” (I Peter 5:8-9).<\/p>\n In helping Christians deal with their troubles, Paul repeatedly reminds them that what they were experiencing was not unique. He tells the suffering Philippians that they were going through “the same conflict<\/em>” which they had seen in him (Philippians 1:29-30). He tells the Thessalonians that they had “suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans<\/em>” (I Thessalonians 2:14). He tells the Corinthians that they were “enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer<\/em>” (II Corinthians 1:6).<\/p>\n If others have experienced your trials and temptations and made it through, so can you. This is the point in I Corinthians 10:13 where Paul writes, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.<\/em>” One modern speech translation of the first part of 1 Corinthians 10:13 reads “You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted . . .\u00a0<\/em>” (CEV).<\/p>\n The most important step in overcoming a problem is recognizing it. But the second most important step is realizing that there are those who can help. This is true whether the problem is alcoholism, a rocky marriage, financial woes, or just plain sin. And for Christians, it is especially important to realize that there is One who can help, no matter what the problem is. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need<\/em>” (Hebrews 4:15-16).<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Steve Klein Do you tend to have problems that no one else has? If so, this article is for you. And it might surprise you to learn that I know what your problem is. Your problem is that you think your problems are unique, and your perspective is preventing you from getting the help…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[179,185],"class_list":["post-34837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-sin","tag-temptation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28971,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/solving-church-problems\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":0},"title":"Solving Church Problems","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bobby L. Graham Sentry Magazine, September 2003 Jerusalem: A Church with Problems While it is true that Corinth is probably the church that most often comes to mind in connection with problems, it is also correct that Jerusalem was the first church with problems. The chief difference is that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/explosion-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7311,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-the-church-help-a-family-that-is-constantly-in-financial-difficulties\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":1},"title":"Should the church help a family that is constantly in financial difficulties?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 6, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Now, one other problem that I sure would appreciate your help with: One family (husband, wife and four children) are new members here and seem to have an ongoing financial problem. A couple of weeks ago they needed money because of an $800 utility bill and were going to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19478,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-for-addressing-problems-few-others-are-willing-to-write-about\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":2},"title":"Thank you for addressing problems few others are willing to write about","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 17, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I want to thank you for your web site and the fact you post articles and letters of everyday problems Christians may face that almost no one talks about. Often I search for help in responding to one of my readers concerning a private problem and most of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20272,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-the-problems-in-israel-and-wars-in-iraq-what-revelation-talks-about\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":3},"title":"Are the problems in Israel and wars in Iraq what Revelation talks about?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 24, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have had a ton of friends who are part of denominations, mostly Pentecostals.\u00a0Obviously the first problem is the fact that they are part of a denomination. They have this idea that what is going on in Israel and the war in Iraq and around the world is what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63518,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":4},"title":"The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 22, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 39 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was a rickety wagon that the man was using. He had been moving goods for many years and was quite good at it. This family needed to be moved across town, so he piled their worldly possessions onto his wagon. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52360,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-proper-to-get-mad-at-my-parents-because-they-are-putting-me-in-the-middle-of-their-arguments\/","url_meta":{"origin":34837,"position":5},"title":"Is it proper to get mad at my parents because they are putting me in the middle of their arguments?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My parents are Christians; however, lately, my parents have had relational issues that disrupt our family. 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