what is problem solving in the bible

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Solving Life’s Problems

Christian principles of problem solving.

When the apostle Paul found himself in that situation, he didn’t see it as a problem at all. Instead, he saw it as God’s divine appointment for his life. He considered the privilege God had given him to defend and establish the gospel (Philippians 1:7). He considered the opportunities he had been given of sharing Jesus Christ with the palace guards and with his fellow ministers in the city. In Lesson 1 we mentioned Paul’s reaction to his imprisonment. He was rejoicing because he knew God was using him even in prison.

Perhaps the best point of view with which to face problems is to see them as opportunities to exercise faith, to practice trusting the Lord, to prove God’s great faithfulness, and to be proved by Him. Your Christian faith is made stronger when you work together with the Lord to find solutions to life’s problems. He does have the right solution for every problem!

Start With A Christian Approach

Two Important Questions

Recently I heard about a young couple who had decided to get a divorce. When they had married, they were both dedicated Christians who faithfully attended their church, read the Bible, and prayed together. But as he got more and more involved in his work, and she became occupied with the two children that came along in the first four years of marriage, their lives became too busy. First their daily habit of reading the Word and praying together dropped off, and gradually they found more and more reasons to stay away from church.

Quite naturally, when problems began to creep into their marriage, they were not spiritually prepared to deal with them. Even though they were well aware of what the Bible taught in matters of faith and conduct, they were not willing to practice this teaching. They made up their own minds about the solution to their problems. Christian friends tried to persuade them to work on their relationship and not seek a divorce, but they had made their decision. They didn’t want to hear what God’s Word said about divorce because hearing it might affect their decision (see Mark 10:2-12; Matthew 5:31-32). They went ahead with the divorce, and exchanged one set of problems for some worse ones.

By choosing a way to solve their problems which was contrary to God’s revealed will as given in His Word, this young couple deprived themselves of these blessings:

1. Divine strength to work through a problem until it is solved.

2. Peace which comes from obedience.

3. Direction from the Holy Spirit so that God’s will can be known.

4. God’s power to bring an unexpected or even supernatural answer to a problem.

This young couple is an example of people who had the wrong answers to two very important questions I ask myself often, and which I want to share with you. They are:

1. Do I really want to know God’s will about this problem?

2. Am I willing to follow God’s will when I know it?

If, when you ask yourself these two questions, you cannot answer a firm yes, then you need first of all to spend time in spiritual preparation, asking the Lord to make you willing to say, “Yes, I want to find AND carry out God’s solution for my problems.”

Spiritual Preparation 

Spiritual preparation is of great importance to successful problem solving. A time of stress is the time to increase your devotional prayer and Bible reading, not to decrease it. Solving a problem in a Christ-like way is not something we can decide to do at the moment the problem occurs. Problems may occur suddenly and need immediate action. A wise Christian will maintain an attitude of spiritual readiness with his heart and mind continually open to guidance from the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul gives some helpful instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, 21, 22: “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. . . . Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

Spiritual preparation should include these activities:

1. Have a regular time of Bible reading, meditation (thinking about what you read), and prayer every day. Open your mind to what the Bible teaches. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts.

2. Listen to scriptural teaching from your pastor and other Christian teachers.

3. Determine in your heart to consider every problem in terms of what the Bible teaches about it, even if the scriptural solution seems very difficult to follow.

Avoid Wrong Reactions

Spiritual preparation will help you to reject and avoid certain common but wrong ways of dealing with problem situations. Many of these wrong ways will fit under one of these categories: anger, retreat, and human effort alone. Let’s consider each of them briefly.

Many people who are wronged or offended have a first impulse to react in an angry or aggressive way. This can take many forms: anger aimed at other people, at God, or at our circumstances; accusation, or placing the blame on someone else; and even revenge. When we are hurting, it is easy to want to hurt the one who caused the pain. This is not the way Christ taught us to react, but it is a common fault. Christ’s way is this:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. . . . You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-45).

Actually, when we turn our anger over to the Lord, we can trust Him to take care of us. In Romans 12:19 the apostle Paul tells us, “Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the Scripture says, ‘I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord’” (TEV)

Christ is the perfect example of one who was “unoffendable”—that is, He did not allow Himself to become offended when He was treated wrongly. He never reacted in anger. As He hung on the cross looking down upon the Roman soldiers who had beaten Him, spit upon Him, and nailed Him to the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). If you will refuse to be offended or to react in anger when someone mistreats you, you will experience real joy to know that you have come through the trial with a right attitude. This will strengthen you so that when the next offense comes it will be easier to face it without anger.

Being “unoffendable” takes prayer and practice, but what a blessing it is when you can look back and say, “I’m so glad I didn’t react in anger, but I was able to show love to the one who tried to offend me.”

Retreat, or withdrawal, can take many forms. Sometimes it means running away from a problem, looking for a hiding place. Some people escape reality by losing themselves in drug addiction, in alcoholism, in seeking worldly pleasures, in overeating or overwork, in religious fanaticism, or in other ways. You can hide behind almost anything to avoid facing the truth. (There is, of course, a constructive kind of withdrawal also, when a Christian might choose to leave a situation to avoid a problem.)

Retreat sometimes takes the form of physical escape. I know of one young woman who was not married and still lived with her parents. She began to worry that she would never marry, and would soon be responsible for the care of her aging parents, while her married brothers and sisters would not have that responsibility. Soon her feelings of self-pity and bitterness caused her to pack all her belongings and leave home without letting anyone know where she was going.

Another form of retreat is withdrawal. A widow I know of refuses to leave her house except in emergencies, and has stopped seeing her family and friends since her husband died. She is very lonely and unhappy.

Human Effort Alone 

I have saved this self-help response until last because it is not all negative. God has made the human will a powerful, positive force which is able to rise above life’s difficulties in a remarkable way. If there were nothing to “positive thinking” the non-Christian world would never be able to survive. But to trust in human will-power as the main resource for handling life’s problems is certainly not the Christian way! God’s intent is for His children to face their problems in the power of the risen Christ, and to use their problems as opportunities for Him to reveal His power and grace. So in considering reactions to avoid in dealing with problems, it is important to remember not to try to solve them by your own human efforts alone, but take them to God in prayer!

It may be easier for you to take your little problems to the Lord than to trust Him when you are confronted with a problem that seems to have no solution. This is God’s opportunity to work a miracle in your life—His power is unlimited when you learn to commit every thing into His hands, and He will never disappoint you! (See Ephesians 3:20; 1 John 5:14-15.)

Use A Systematic Method

We have been laying the foundation thus far in this lesson for the use of a systematic method of problem solving based on Christian principles. Many books have been written to help people with all kinds of problems. This is a complex subject, and there are many approaches to it. Our purpose is to give you some guidelines which, if followed, will help you to deal with your problems with the right attitude and with a Christlike spirit, allowing God to provide the answers!

After we have discussed the six basic steps in a systematic method of problem solving, we will give you the opportunity to work through the steps using a problem situation from Scripture, and from present day situations. As we discuss specific problems in future lessons, you will have opportunities to apply the steps to arrive at biblical solutions. We hope in this way to help you make an application of the principles to real problems in your own life, or in the lives of people you want to help.

Step 1. Identify the Problem

Not all problems are easily identified. Others are. Suppose I need money, or have unpleasant neighbors, or notice that my eyes are getting weak. These kinds of problems are easily identified.

If, on the other hand, I feel unhappy but don’t know why, have trouble sleeping, or feel uneasy but can’t explain what has caused the feeling, I may have to give myself to specific meditation and prayer to discover the source of the problem. I may even need outside help to discover it.

a. First you need to identify the source of the problem. We talked about sources of problems in Lesson 1. Once this has been  established, you will be better able to face up to the problem. When you have defined it as something that really can be changed, you are ready for the next step.

b. You may need to look for deeper causes . For example, suppose I am short of money for food and I will not receive my pay for several more days. The cause may be that I have been careless with my money and used it for unnecessary things. I can solve the problem easily by planning more carefully in the future. But if I find that the necessities of life are greater than my weekly income can cover, on a regular basis, then I must find a more permanent solution. The deeper cause is that I regularly need more money than is available to pay for my necessities. I must either increase my income or cut my expenses.

Step 2. Commit Your Problem to the Lord

God is greater than any problem you may have. Lift your eyes away from your problem and to the all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful Jesus Christ. He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7). Talk about the problem to God. That is, say it out loud in your own words. God knows what the problem is, it’s true, but He wants us to come to Him in prayer.

There is something very important about being definite in prayer. One dear Christian lady I know writes down her prayer requests and the date when she began praying about each of them. Then as the answers come she records that date also. She says it strengthens her faith to go over the record and see how faithful God is. It also reminds her to give thanks for answered prayers.

As you turn your attention from your problem to the Lord, you will feel that a great weight has rolled from your shoulders. The worry must leave, because you are trusting Christ. The burden must go, because He has said, “Come unto me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 TEV). “Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 TEV). This is the true meaning of commitment: concern enough to do what has to be done, and a trusting heart that does away with worry and fear.

Step 3. Consider All Possible Solutions 

We have already discussed in Lesson 2 the ways for finding solutions. Sometimes there is more than one solution to a problem. What you want to do is find the best solution. Apply these steps to each possible solution:

a. Discover the scriptural principles that apply to the problem. Reject any solutions that do not measure up to these principles.

b. Seek answers in all the appropriate (right) places. Use your resources.

c. Seek God’s will.

Step 4. Consider the Possible Consequences of All Alternatives 

Think of the possible consequences for the couple who decided divorce was the solution to their problems. The results of a broken home affect not only the husband and wife, but also the children. A wrong solution can create greater problems than those you started with. That’s why it is so important to reject any solutions which cannot be supported by scriptural teaching. Use your resources to determine what consequences might result from any decision you make.

Step 5. Choose One Solution and Act on It

You have identified your problem, and you have committed it to God in prayer. You have carefully studied God’s Word to find His teaching concerning your problem or related problems. If necessary, you have discussed your problem with a Christian friend, pastor, or counselor. Now you have used your best judgment, guided by the Holy Spirit, to decide what is God’s will for you in this situation. It is now time to act upon the decision you choose. Believe that God will help you and He will be with you as you take this step toward solving your problem.

Step 6. Evaluate the Results and Make Any Needed Adjustments 

I have included this step because we need to evaluate the results of the solution we chose. Sometimes after we have acted to solve a problem, we find that it was not the best choice—further adjustment may be necessary. Don’t despair if you have acted according to your best judgment, after committing your problem to God and asking for His direction, and then you find that somehow your solution failed to achieve the desired results. Problem solving is learned through experience. It is not a talent we inherited at birth. This is a time to look within yourself to see if you have fully committed yourself to God’s will and are ready to follow wherever He leads you.

Step 1. Identify the Problem 

Use the same procedure as in Method A.

Step 2. Commit It to God 

Step 3. Expect God to Work for Your Good 

The real solution to this kind of problem is to joyfully accept what cannot be changed, and allow the situation to be a growing experience for you—forming you into the likeness of Christ and making you a more caring, compassionate human being. Remind yourself often that “in all things God works for good with those who love him” (Romans 8:28 TEV). It is unhealthy to dwell on how things “might have been, if only . . .” Such thoughts are a waste of time and energy. You can expect God to work for your good no matter what your situation may be.

Rejoice And Give Thanks

The last principle in the Christian response to problem solving is to give God the glory. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Praise God continually. Whenever your mind is not occupied with necessary business, develop the habit of letting praise flow silently to God. This simple practice will transform your mind. Praise Him for His faithfulness, for standing with you in all your problems.

Like Paul, share your good news with others! Paul wrote about the faithfulness of Christ when he penned the letter to his friends the Philippian Christians (Philippians 1:12). He didn’t want them to feel sorry for him! He said joyfully, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:4-5). Paul also shared with them some of the things he had learned as he allowed God to work out the problems in his life:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).

When we recognize that Christ is the Master of every situation that comes into our lives, that He cares about us, and that He is always working for our eternal good, we can do nothing but praise Him. He is worthy of our praise! We are ready now to consider specific problems which are common to many people, and which you may face.

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Problem-Solving

The first principle of problem solving is to get the facts. It's in the Bible , Proverbs 18:13, TLB. "What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!"

The second principle of solving problems is to be open to new ideas. It's in the Bible , Proverbs 18:15, TLB. "The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them."

The third principle of problem solving is to hear both sides of the story. It's in the Bible , Proverbs 18:17, TLB. "Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight."

How does God want us to respond to problems? Realize that problems are inevitable and grow as a result of them. It's in the Bible , James 1:2-4, NIV. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Problems are confirmation that we are being prepared for heaven. It's in the Bible , II Thessalonians 1:5, TLB. "This is only one example of the fair, just way God does things, for He is using your sufferings to make you ready for His Kingdom."

How can we handle problems? God can help us with them. It's in the Bible , Psalm 145:14, NIV. "The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down."

Jesus can sometimes free us from burdens and problems. It's in the Bible , Matthew 11:28, NIV. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Trust that God's ultimate purpose for your life is good. It's in the Bible , Romans 8:28, NIV. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Hard time solving your problems? God will help. It's in the Bible , James 1:5, TLB. "If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; He will not resent it. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way, and then that. If you don't ask with faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer."

Trust in God rather than self for guidance. It's in the Bible , Proverbs 3:4-6, TLB. "If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

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Biblical Problem Solving

Biblical problem solving revolves around our relationship with God. The bigger your view of God, the smaller your problems become. Problems are produced not in what happens to us, but in on our unmet human expectations.

Biblical Problem Solving: Problems Are Different than Sins

Biblically, problems are different than sins. Problems are things like mistakes, issues, annoyances, or external complications needing to be solved. Sins are offenses against God and people by breaking commands found in the Bible.

Our interpretation of our outer circumstances is what will define something as a problem or not. To the house painter, the rain is a problem. To the farmer, the rain is a blessing. Reality is reality. We can’t change how the cookie crumbles in our lives. But our perspective and interpretation of reality is where problems are truly produced.

Problems arise in our life when circumstances make us feel we do not have the ability to accomplish what we want. When your car breaks down, it is a problem because you need to drive the kids to school, go to work, and pickup groceries on the way home. When your boss overlooks you for a promotion, it is a problem because you feel unappreciated and disrespected when you want to feel the opposite. These types of things are not sin in our life, per-say. How we respond to these problems, however, is what can lead to sin.

Biblical Problem Solving: How You View God Will Shape How You View Your Life

The more you try to be your own God, the quicker you will sin when dealing with even the smallest of problems. Humans were not designed to handle the stress of being the ultimate authority on anything. Therefore, when we try to be Lord of all, we grow fearful, and the fear manifests as sinful anger. The source of our fear is rooted in the fact that we are trying to accomplish a job we know we are not fit to accomplish. When we know we are soon to fail at solving a problem, frustration leading to sin is always the result.

James 4:1-2 explains, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” In other words, our unmet expectations cause us to respond in sinful ways. We want what we want because we want to be God. Perhaps this is why in just a few verses later James adds, “‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4: 6-7).

The only biblical solution to the stress we cause ourselves by trying to be God is to give God his rightful place in our lives, humbly submitting to him as the supreme authority to do whatever he thinks is best. To know, believe, and live as though God is in complete and utter control of everything, including our largest and minutest problems, is to give yourself the peace to handle the worst things that can ever happen on planet earth. James goes as far to say that we should have no expectations for the things outside of our human control:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 1:13-17)

Biblical Problem Solving: Peace Begins with Believing in God’s Sovereignty

Earthly problems grow smaller the more heavenly minded we are. Some would argue that we can become too heavenly minded and lose our earthly effectiveness. It’s true that we must always be aware of becoming so lost in thought we lose focus of the practical needs of people set before us every day. But to lose focus of God while being consumed with “doing good” is to be crushed by the all endless needs of this world. Because the world’s condition is so beyond our ability, the only way to be useful and not crushed is to be servants to the God of the universe, not servants to the universe’s needs.

When the Master of all is truly our master and we know we are but servants sent to do only a part of the work which he is wholly responsible for, only then will we be free from the paralysis that happens to limited creatures when confronted with limitless problems. Like a computer that’s given too many tasks at once without the power to support the requests, we will be frozen and useless if we try to do more than we were designed for.

Perfectionism and pride, manifesting in the belief that we must solve every problem ourselves, produces a paralysis where we do nothing because we know we cannot do everything. When we know we are unfit to be God, we give up even trying to be a useful human because we are so overwhelmed at what we know we can’t do rather than focusing on the smaller things we can do.

Biblical Problem Solving: An Eternal Perspective Trumps Our Personal Problems

If we hope to be effective on earth, we must be transfixed with the higher things of God. We can go on proclaiming what matters for eternity despite our temporal problems only when we see God for the GOD he is. He reigns forever – before, during, and after every earthly problem.

Earthly problems are put in their proper place when our hearts are set on heaven, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Only a big view of God and his awesome power will give us the peace and self-control we desire when confronted with earthly problems. Biblical problem solving starts with an accurate view of God’s sovereignty. A small perspective of God produces big problems.

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You are here, recent articles, from the series: acts previous page | next page, lesson 16: solving problems in the church (acts 6:1-7).

Someone has said, “If you ever find the perfect church, don’t join it because you will spoil it!” I often tell the new members class, “I promise that if you join this church, we will at some point offend you.” Or, as some wag put it, “To dwell above with the saints we love, O that will be glory! But to dwell below with the saints we know, well, that’s a different story!”

To have been in the early church would have been a wonderful experience. God was working in powerful ways. Daily there were reports of new people coming to faith in the risen Savior. It was an exciting time. But the early church was not a perfect church. We’ve already seen the problem of hypocrisy, with Ananias and Sapphira. Now Luke shows us another problem that occurred in the midst of this phenomenal growth: a complaint arose that threatened to split the church.

Luke has followed a pattern from chapter one that alternates between a picture of the church alone and the church in relation to the world (James Boice, Acts [Baker], pp. 103-104, develops this). In chapter one, the church is alone, gathered for prayer in the upper room, where they elect an apostle to replace Judas. In Acts 2, we see the church in the world. Peter preaches and 3,000 souls are saved. At the end of Acts 2, Luke gives another picture of the church life. In Acts 3 through 4:22, we see the church again in the world, with the first instance of persecution. For the rest of chapter 4 and through the first part of chapter 5, we again get an inside view of the church. They gather for prayer, and we learn of their unusual generosity and care for one another. But we also learn of the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira. Then (5:12 ff.) Luke again turns to the church in the world, describing the apostles’ witness before the Sanhedrin, resulting in their being flogged. Now Luke again turns inward, showing us this problem that occurred within the church at this time of unusual growth. By introducing us to Stephen, he sets the stage for the next outward scene, where Stephen is stoned and the church is scattered.

By this alternating pattern, Luke seems to be showing us that the church must maintain a balance. Some churches are so outwardly focused that they fail to attend to problems within. If those problems are not addressed, the church may grow at first, but eventually the internal problems will result in discord and disintegration. Other churches are so inwardly focused that they forget their mission in the world. If they do not recover their sense of mission, they will be consumed with bickering and self-centeredness, leading to demise. Healthy churches maintain the balance of dealing with internal problems, but also staying focused on the task of taking the gospel to the world.

Our text reveals to us some principles for solving problems that arise in the local church. To sum up:

To solve problems in the local church, both leaders and people must be spiritual people in submission to God’s Word.

Since seven is the biblical number of perfection, I want to give you seven principles for problem solving in the church, derived from our text. First, what do I mean by “spiritual” people?

1. Spiritual people orient everything in their lives to God through prayer and God’s Word.

A spiritual person builds his life on God’s Word, in dependence on God through prayer. In the words of Proverbs 3:4-5, he trusts in the Lord with all his heart and does not lean on his own understanding. Rather, in all his ways he acknowledges the Lord. God’s Word permeates all of his thinking and doing. He does not act with human or worldly wisdom, but in accordance with the wisdom revealed in Scripture.

Note our text’s emphasis on these themes: The apostles hear of this problem in the church. Their first response is, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God” (6:2). They reiterate this in 6:4: “We will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” The result was, “the word of God kept on spreading” (6:7). The requirement for these men who were to deal with the problem was that they be “men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (6:3). Stephen, one of the seven men, was “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5). Before the apostles laid hands on them, publicly setting them apart for this ministry, they prayed (6:6). The whole problem-solving process was oriented to God through prayer and God’s Word.

This is vital to solving any problem in the church! The entire congregation, especially the leaders, must walk in daily, practical reality with the living God, in submission to His Word, in dependence on Him in prayer. There is nothing wrong with conducting church business according to Robert’s Rules of Order, if people are not self-willed, not acting on the basis of worldly wisdom, not grabbing for power or influence. But I’ve been in church meetings where Robert’s Rules were followed, but the Spirit and the Word were effectively absent. Many churches are run like American politics, with influential men forming power bases, working behind the scenes to get enough votes to orchestrate a victory. But they are not seeking the mind of God in submission to the Word and the Holy Spirit. Such power-hungry men know how to use prayer to make their agenda sound spiritual; but they are seeking their will for the church, not God’s will. Spiritual men seek God and His will for His church through prayer and God’s Word.

Today we have many books on church management, conflict resolution, and church growth that are based more on worldly wisdom than on God’s Word. These books give the overall impression of being based on the Bible, but often they are based on the latest secular ideas. If you’re not discerning, you end up swallowing the whole thing. Spiritual people may glean some insights from such books. But spiritual people judge everything by God’s Word, which is our only authority for faith and practice.

Note also that spiritual people are concerned for the total person. In other words, spirituality isn’t limited to the soul, but also to the body. This problem arose in connection with distributing food to needy widows in the church. The Bible has a special concern for widows and orphans (see 1 Tim. 5:3-16). In that culture, widows often were left destitute, with no family and no means of support. The church tried to meet these needs. True spirituality is not impractical and other-worldly. Spiritual people care about people’s physical and spiritual needs. They don’t just dish out pious platitudes, but they offer real help to those in need. As Amy Carmichael once pointed out to some critics of her ministry to the needy people of India, souls are rather securely fastened to bodies!

You may be thinking, “If everyone in the church were spiritual, there wouldn’t be any problems.” But that is overly idealistic.

2. Even spiritual people have problems.

We have already read of the sense of unity and community in this early church. They had the best leaders imaginable in the twelve apostles. They were growing in a way that can only be attributed to the power of the Holy Spirit. And yet they had this problem.

Whenever you have growth through new conversions, you will have problems. Spiritual babies always dirty their spiritual diapers. They wake you up in the middle of the night with their crying. Like all babies, spiritual babies are usually self-centered at first. Even mature believers are not exempt from self-centeredness, struggles, and sin. So every church, especially every growing church, is going to have problems.

This problem was probably not deliberate. The Hellenistic Jews felt like their widows were being slighted, while the Hebrew widows were getting more than their fair share in the daily distribution of food. The Hellenistic Jews mostly came from outside of Palestine, spoke Greek, and were largely influenced by the Greek culture. The Hebrews were Jews who spoke Aramaic and grew up in a Jewish culture, mostly in Palestine. Both groups in the Jerusalem church had come to faith in Jesus as God’s Messiah and Savior. But getting saved did not erase all of these background factors. It is naïve to think, “Since we’re all born again, we won’t experience any conflicts.” Salvation does not eradicate different cultural assumptions and attitudes. This applies both to the church and to entering a marriage, by the way!

Acts 6:1 is the first description in Acts of Christians as “disciples,” which means “learners,” referring to those who are learning to follow Jesus as Lord. That is a lifelong process. There would not be all of the exhortations to Christians to love and forbearance in the New Testament, if it were automatic. Even spiritual people have problems and conflicts.

Note also that this problem arose out of a ministry. It was because they were trying to serve the Lord by meeting the needs of these widows that this conflict arose, not because they were worldly-minded and doing nothing about the problem. Christians often naively get involved in serving the Lord with the assumption that everyone will get along since “we’re all doing the Lord’s work.” But often it is when we try to serve the Lord together that conflicts erupt, which never would have happened if we had not been serving the Lord. It’s shocking to discover that the Lord’s other servants do not all agree with my way of doing things!

We are not told whether the Hellenistic Jews went directly to the apostles and discussed this problem, or whether the apostles heard about it through the grapevine. We are told that the Hellenistic Jews had a complaint. The Greek word means a “murmuring.” Probably they had grumbled amongst themselves and word spread until the apostles heard about it. But God’s way to deal with a problem is not to grumble amongst the body, and not to leave the church, but to go directly to the leaders who can listen and deal with the problem in a constructive manner. Leaders cannot deal with problems that they do not know about.

When the apostles heard about the problem, they called together the whole congregation. They did not blame anyone or lash out in self-defense. Rather, they explained their philosophy of ministry, laid out some guidelines, assigned the congregation the task of finding seven qualified men to deal with the problem, and gave those men the authority to deal with it.

3. Spiritual people are committed to harmony expressed through diversity.

It is significant that the apostles did not say, “It’s time that we divide the church up into the First Hellenistic Church of Jerusalem and the First Hebrew Church of Jerusalem.” They never considered division as an option. Even though these two groups had diverse backgrounds and even different mother tongues, they wanted to work this problem out in a spirit of unity, not division.

There are legitimate times to separate from professing Christians or churches, although that subject is beyond the scope of this message. But unless there are biblical grounds to separate, God is glorified when people from diverse cultures and backgrounds worship Him together on the common ground of salvation through Jesus Christ. One Church Growth trend today is to plant churches that are targeted to reach only one segment of our society, such as the Generation Xer’s or the Baby Boomers. That’s not biblical. God wants us to reach all segments of society so that those from every walk of life will gather in love and unity to sing His praises. So we must commit ourselves to work through our problems whenever it does not compromise essential truth.

4. Often problems in the church can be explained and resolved by understanding spiritual gifts.

Not even the apostles could do it all. They were gifted and called to the ministry of prayer and preaching the Word. They were not control-freaks, who had to direct every aspect of church ministry. They were willing to delegate responsibility to other godly men who could deal with the problems. The laying on of hands symbolized the apostles giving recognition and approval to these capable men to carry on this aspect of ministry.

One key to solving church problems is to recognize and implement the division of labor on the basis of spiritual gifts. No one man or group of men, however gifted, can carry on the work of the local church. It is only when every member gets involved in serving in accordance with his or her gifts that the church will be strong.

Also, we need to understand that often people grumble about problems that are directly related to their area of spiritual gift. If someone complains that the church does not do enough in outreach, you are probably looking at a person with the gift of evangelism. If she complains that the church is not friendly enough, chances are she has the gift of hospitality. The one who grumbles about how disorganized the church is probably is gifted in administration. The man who laments the lack of discernment of spiritual error is probably a prophet. The key to resolving differences is for each person to recognize the validity of all the gifted members and to use his (or her) gift to work on the problems that he perceives. The church will only be strong when every member commits himself to the ministry that God has gifted him to do.

5. Spiritual leaders must maintain their focus on prayer and the ministry of God’s Word.

Acts 6:4 (along with Eph. 4:11-12 & 2 Tim. 4:1-5) has been one of my main directional verses in ministry. It has kept me focused on my major task when many other things pressure me to spend my time in other ways. Prayer and the ministry of the Word are interrelated. You cannot properly preach the Word unless you wait upon God in prayer. If you neglect prayer, all you’re doing is putting together clever sermons that may entertain, but surely will lack God’s power. Also, prayer is essential because even when God has gifted you to preach His Word, you will always be overwhelmed with how inadequate you are for the task (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5). You must pray that God will bless your preaching of His Word with lasting fruit.

Many pastors get carried away with building the church through management and marketing principles, to the neglect of God’s Word. If a man is not committed first and foremost to the ministry of God’s Word, he should not be the preaching pastor of a local church. It takes time to prepare biblical sermons. That’s why the apostles said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (6:2). They could not do both. They were not despising the work of serving tables; it was rather a matter of only having so much time in a week. Their focus was on the prayerful study and proclamation of God’s Word. If a shepherd slights his responsibility to feed the flock, even to do other good things, he fails in the primary biblical responsibility of a shepherd.

Years ago my office was at home. Marla would screen my calls while I was studying for the weekly sermon. One day a woman from the national headquarters of Pioneer Girls called and wanted to talk with me about how that ministry was going in our church. It was only with great difficulty that Marla finally persuaded her that I had no clue how that ministry was going, and if she really wanted to find out, she needed to call the woman who headed that program. The reason that woman couldn’t believe what she was hearing is that so many pastors neglect the principle of devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

6. Leaders at every level must be spiritually qualified.

The apostles did not say, “Find seven willing bodies and have them serve tables.” To serve tables, these men had to be of the highest spiritual caliber. The congregation wisely chose seven men with Greek names, who probably were from Greek backgrounds. The Hebrews did not demand equal representation or a majority on this board. There may have been seven Hebrews already on this board, we don’t know. But they let the Hellenistic men minister to the Hellenistic widows. Note the qualifications:

(1) They had to be men, not women. The Greek word refers to males. We do not know if these men were the first “deacons.” Probably they fulfilled that role, but the office did not originate until later. While there is a biblical basis for having female deacons (1 Tim. 3:11; Rom. 16:1), they must be under male elders who have oversight of the church (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:1-7).

(2) They were plural in number. Every reference to church leaders indicates a plurality of elders in a singular local church. While one man may be the leader among equals, as Peter was among the apostles, he is not to be an autocratic leader who calls the shots without regard for his fellow elders. We do not know why the apostles here designate seven men. Maybe they knew that the job required that many men.

(3) They were to be men of good reputation. The Greek word (“witness”) means that these men had to be attested by others to be men of integrity. Reputations take time to build, and so it is implied that these men were not new believers.

(4) They had to be full of the Spirit. Someone has pointed out that everybody is full of something, either of self or of God’s Spirit. These men had to be under the Spirit’s control.

(5) They had to be full of wisdom. They needed to know how to apply God’s Word to practical, everyday situations. Such wisdom does not come apart from maturity and experience.

The main thing to note is that to carry out this ministry that involved handling and distributing resources, these men had to be godly. It is a major mistake to put men who are not spiritually qualified into a responsible ministry position.

7. A growing organism requires new levels of organization in order to solve problems.

The church is primarily an organism—the living body of which Christ is the head. But all organisms are organized. It is a mistake to over-emphasize organization to the neglect of organism. It is also a mistake to over-emphasize organism and neglect proper organization. The need for new organization grows as the body grows. The apostles here were willing to change the organizational structure of the church to meet this legitimate need. They didn’t cry, “We’ve never done it that way before!”

Note also the blend between apostolic direction and congregational participation. The apostles did not choose these seven men; they delegated that job to the congregation after giving the necessary qualifications. The congregation brought the seven back to the apostles, who validated the choice by praying and laying hands on them. Later, Paul appointed elders in every church to have oversight. He gave us the qualifications to recognize elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The church is not a democracy, but wise elders will involve the congregation on important decisions. The entire church must be functionally under the headship of Jesus Christ, seeking to honor Him and follow His will.

To sum up all of these principles: to solve problems in the local church, both leaders and people must be spiritual people in submission to God’s Word. Verse 7 shows the result of this problem being solved: God’s Word kept on spreading, the number of disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and even a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Humanly speaking, they would have been the most difficult to reach. They would have been entrenched in the Jewish ceremonies and customs. They would have been prone toward salvation by works or because of their Jewish birth. They would not have seen that they were sinners in need of a Savior. Yet God worked mightily through the gospel to bring them to salvation!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, that is your first need. You must come to Him as a sinner, let go of your own good works, and trust in the shed blood of Jesus as the only basis for forgiveness and eternal life. If you are a Christian, but are not using your gifts to serve the Lord, you need to seek God for how He wants you to serve Him. If you’re grumbling about a problem in the church, that may be a clue as to where He wants you to get involved. All of us need to make sure that we are walking daily in reality with Jesus Christ, growing in our knowledge of and obedience to His Word.

Discussion Questions

• How can a person know when problems are so serious as to warrant leaving a church?
• How can a Christian discover his/her spiritual gift(s)?
• How can a local church help its pastor to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word? How can it hinder this?
• Is the local church to be a democracy? If not, where is the balance between elder rule versus congregational government?

Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2001, All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

Problem Solving

Bible verses for problem solving.

Life can be filled with challenges and difficulties, and it's natural for us to seek guidance and support when faced with problems. As Christians, we can turn to the Bible for wisdom and advice on how to navigate through our struggles. In this article, we will explore some powerful Bible verses that can help us in problem-solving, providing comfort, and strengthening our faith in God's ability to guide us through tough times.

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." ‍ When faced with a problem, our first instinct is often to rely on our own understanding and knowledge. However, this verse reminds us that we should place our trust in God and rely on His wisdom. By submitting to His guidance, we can be assured that He will lead us on the right path and help us overcome our difficulties.

2. Philippians 4:6-7 - Pray for Guidance and Peace

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ‍ It's easy to become overwhelmed by our problems, but this verse reminds us to turn to God in prayer. By presenting our requests to Him and expressing gratitude, we can find peace and reassurance that He is in control. This peace surpasses human understanding and will guard our hearts and minds in times of turmoil.

3. Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, Seek, Knock

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." ‍ When we're faced with problems, it's crucial to actively seek God's guidance and wisdom. This verse encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, as God promises to provide answers to those who earnestly seek Him. Keep praying and searching for God's help, and you'll find the solutions you need.

4. James 1:5 - Ask for Wisdom

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." ‍ Wisdom is crucial for problem-solving, and God is the ultimate source of all wisdom. This verse encourages us to ask God for the wisdom we need to navigate through our challenges. He promises to give generously, without judging us for our shortcomings, and help us make wise decisions.

5. Romans 8:28 - All Things Work Together for Good

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ‍ Even when facing problems, we must remember that God is in control and working towards our ultimate good. This verse reassures us that, as long as we love God and follow His purpose, He will use our challenges and struggles to bring about something positive in our lives.

In times of difficulty and uncertainty, the Bible provides us with powerful verses to guide us through problem-solving. By trusting in God, praying for guidance, seeking His wisdom, and remembering His promises, we can face our challenges with confidence and find the solutions we need. Remember that God is always with you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you as you navigate through life's problems.

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What does the Bible say about trusting in God for problem-solving?

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Instead, we should submit to God in all our ways, and He will make our paths straight. This verse teaches us to place our trust in God and rely on His wisdom when faced with problems. By doing so, we can be assured that He will lead us on the right path and help us overcome our difficulties.

How can we find peace when faced with problems?

Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us not to be anxious about anything, but to present our requests to God through prayer and thanksgiving. By turning to God in prayer and expressing our gratitude, we can find the peace of God, which transcends all understanding. This peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, providing reassurance that God is in control even in times of turmoil.

What should we do when seeking solutions to our problems?

Matthew 7:7-8 encourages us to ask, seek, and knock when looking for answers to our problems. God promises that those who earnestly seek Him will receive answers, find what they're looking for, and have doors opened to them. By continually praying and searching for God's help, we can find the solutions we need.

How can we obtain wisdom for problem-solving?

James 1:5 tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. Wisdom is essential for problem-solving, and God is the ultimate source of all wisdom. When we ask God for the wisdom we need to navigate through our challenges, He promises to give generously and help us make wise decisions.

How can we be reassured that God is working for our good when faced with problems?

Romans 8:28 states that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. This verse reassures us that, as long as we love God and follow His purpose, He will use our challenges and struggles to bring about something positive in our lives. Even when facing problems, we must remember that God is in control and working towards our ultimate good.

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• Philosophers

What does the Bible say about problem solving?

Divine guidance in trials.

Filed under:

People mentioned:.

• Timothy Keller
• Theodore J. Wardlaw
• Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
• Dennis E. Johnson

Works mentioned:

• The Wisdom of God: Letting His Truth and Goodness Direct Your Steps
• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
• The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
• Trust in God: The Christian Life and the Book of Confessions
• Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ

Struggling with life's hurdles? The Bible offers a unique approach: seek divine wisdom and trust in God's plan. James 1:5 and Proverbs 3:5 highlight the importance of faith and prayer over worldly solutions.

The Bible encourages seeking wisdom and guidance from God for problem-solving, highlighting the importance of prayer, counsel, and trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises trusting in the Lord rather than one’s own understanding, and James 1:5 encourages asking God for wisdom in difficult times.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. This verse suggests that in times of uncertainty or when facing problems, one should seek wisdom from God through prayer. The promise is that God will provide the necessary insight generously to those who ask.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Here, the emphasis is on the value of collective wisdom and the importance of consulting others to ensure the success of one's plans. This verse highlights the biblical principle of seeking diverse perspectives to solve problems effectively.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. This verse underscores the value of wisdom and understanding as foundational elements in addressing challenges. It suggests that acquiring wisdom is of utmost importance and should be pursued even at great cost. In the context of problem-solving, this highlights the idea that thoughtful consideration, an effort to understand the nuances of a situation, and the application of wisdom are crucial steps toward finding effective solutions.

• The Bible presents a distinctive view on problem solving that emphasizes seeking wisdom and guidance from God.
• A blend of faith, love, and adherence to scriptural principles forms the foundation of the Biblical approach to challenges.
• Cultivating a thankful heart and relying on divine support are central to living a godly life amidst problems.

Bible mentions problem solving in the following books:

The Wisdom of God: Letting His Truth and Goodness Direct Your Steps (2017) : A.W. Tozer delves into how divine wisdom can guide us through life's challenges, aligning with the biblical emphasis on seeking God's wisdom for problem-solving.

Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (2014) : Timothy Keller explores the power of prayer in developing a closer relationship with God, crucial for seeking guidance and wisdom in problem-solving.

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (2004) : Ken Sande provides strategies for resolving conflicts with biblical principles, emphasizing trust in God's plan and seeking counsel.

Trust in God: The Christian Life and the Book of Confessions (2019) : Theodore J. Wardlaw focuses on the importance of trust in God through life's trials, reflecting the biblical approach to relying on God's plan in problem-solving.

Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ (2009) : Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson highlight the significance of Christ-centered counsel in addressing personal issues, aligning with the biblical strategy for problem-solving through guidance and wisdom.

Foundations of Problem Solving in Scripture

Scriptural teachings place a significant emphasis on looking to God for the wisdom and guidance necessary to navigate life's challenges. The Bible offers profound insights into the role that seeking divine direction, prayer, and understanding God's purpose play in problem solving.

Seeking God's Wisdom and Guidance

In matters of problem solving, Scripture underscores the importance of seeking God's wisdom. The book of Proverbs is particularly rich in verses that articulate this principle, such as Proverbs 3:6: " In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. " This suggests that the acknowledgment of God in every aspect of life is crucial to overcoming obstacles and finding solutions.

The Role of Prayer in Problem Solving

Prayer is a foundational element for Christians when dealing with difficulties. Verses like Philippians 4:6-7 advocate for bringing worries to God through prayer: " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. " Through sincere prayer, individuals seek both comfort and solutions, entrusting their problems to divine wisdom.

Understanding God's Purpose in Trials

Trials are often perceived as opportunities for growth within the Biblical narrative. In the Epistle to the Romans, it is written, Romans 8:28: " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. " This verse gives assurance that trials serve a purpose under God's sovereign plan, cultivating a deeper understanding and reliance on Him during life's challenges.

Applying Biblical Principles to Challenges

When facing life's hurdles, the Bible offers guidance through principles that help believers navigate their trials. These teachings encourage reliance on divine wisdom and illustrate how trust in God can provide a firm foundation during challenges.

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

The Bible emphasizes the importance of trust in God as a cornerstone for problem-solving. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This passage hones in on the assurance that, when believers place their trust in God and not solely in their own intellect or resources, they can expect guidance and clarity.

Learning from Biblical Examples

Throughout the Bible, there are myriad examples of individuals who faced immense challenges and overcame them through divine assistance. One notable example is that of Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 6). Despite the danger, Daniel remained steadfast in prayer, and God delivered him, demonstrating that unwavering faith in God's plan can lead to miraculous outcomes.

Embracing God's Strength in Weakness

The Bible teaches that God's strength is made perfect in human weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" This principle reassures believers that in the midst of their struggles, when they might feel inadequate, they can rely on God's unending strength to provide the resolve and resolve needed to face any challenge.

The Christian Approach to Conflict Resolution

The Bible offers guidance on conflict resolution that emphasizes reconciliation and forgiveness. It advocates for dealing with anger in a righteous manner and applying wisdom when handling disputes.

Reconciliation and Forgiveness

Reconciliation is a cornerstone in Christian conflict resolution, where one is encouraged to seek peace and restore relationships. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15) This passage underscores the importance of addressing issues directly and privately, fostering an environment conducive to forgiveness.

Dealing with Anger Righteously

Anger management is a critical aspect of resolving conflicts in a Christian context. Ephesians 4:26 advises, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” reminding believers to express their emotions without harming others or allowing resentment to fester.

Wisdom in Handling Disputes

Applying wisdom to conflict means seeking God’s guidance and discerning the most righteous path forward. The Book of Proverbs is replete with verses on wisdom, such as Proverbs 15:1, which states, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This reflects the practice of responding to conflicts with gentleness and understanding, rather than hostility.

The Power of Faith and Love in Problem Solving

In the face of challenges, the Bible emphasizes that faith and love are essential tools for problem-solving. They work in tandem to provide strength and guidance.

Harnessing Faith to Overcome Doubt

One must have faith to navigate through life's obstacles and uncertainties. Proverbs 3:6 points out that by acknowledging God in all one's ways, He will make straight their paths. Faith acts as the antidote to doubt, providing clarity where there is confusion.

Showing Love to Friends and Enemies Alike

Love is a powerful force that can turn adversaries into allies and constraints into opportunities for growth. The scripture suggests that one should maintain love not just for friends but also for enemies. Matthew 7:7 encourages that with a sincere heart, one should "seek, and you will find", demonstrating that love can pave the way for solutions in seemingly intractable conflicts.

The Testimony of Love as the Greatest Commandment

The Bible upholds love as the greatest commandment, a testimony that underpins the essence of every law given. 1 Corinthians 13:2 accentuates that one may have all wisdom and understanding, but without love, they amount to nothing. Love, therefore, is the pillar of problem solving, guiding individuals to act with compassion and integrity.

Reliance on Divine Guidance and Scripture

In seeking solutions to life's challenges, many individuals turn to divine guidance and Scripture for direction. This reliance is deeply rooted in the belief that the Bible provides practical advice and the Holy Spirit offers assistance in interpreting and applying biblical teachings to everyday situations.

Interpreting God's Word for Daily Living

One's ability to navigate life's decisions is often enhanced by interpreting Scripture with the intent to apply its wisdom to daily living. Guidance can come from biblical verses that speak to specific situations. For instance, Proverbs 3:6 advises to " acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths, " highlighting the importance of seeking God's direction in all decisions.

The Holy Spirit as a Helper in Times of Need

The Holy Spirit is considered a source of comfort and support, especially when one faces difficult problems. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit works within them to bring clarity and understanding, which is crucial for problem-solving. As expressed in James 1:5, if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to them. This verse, found in discussions about problem-solving in the Bible, emphasizes the role of divine assistance.

Bible Verses for Direction and Comfort

Scripture offers a reservoir of verses that provide both direction and comfort. Individuals frequently turn to passages such as Philippians 4:6, which encourages believers not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, to present their requests to God. Additionally, there is comfort in knowing that Scripture is inspired, as 2 Timothy 3:16 asserts, serving as a guidebook for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

Living a Godly Life Amidst Problems

In the pursuit of a godly life, individuals often encounter various challenges. Addressing problems from a biblical perspective means incorporating self-control, leaning on the church for support, and turning away from sin to pursue divine solutions.

Maintaining Self-Control and Patience

Self-control and patience are crucial virtues when solving life's problems from a biblical standpoint. The Bible calls for believers to exhibit self-control, stating that it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Patience is similarly commended; it’s recommended to persevere in tribulation (Romans 12:12), indicating that facing problems with patience is part of a godly life.

The Role of the Church in Supporting Individuals

The church plays a significant role in supporting its members to live godly lives amidst problems. By fostering a community rooted in love and understanding, the church becomes a place where individuals can seek counsel and aid (Galatians 6:2). A guide on godly living can attest to the importance of the church as a support system in helping believers to walk a faithful path, even in the face of difficulties.

Turning Away from Sin to Find Solutions

Turning away from sin is essential when seeking biblical solutions to problems. The Bible encourages believers to confess and forsake their sins to obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Therefore, problem-solving in a godly life involves repentance and the pursuit of righteousness, which leads to sensible and godly solutions.

Cultivating a Thankful Heart in All Circumstances

In the face of life's challenges, the Bible encourages believers to maintain a thankful heart. This attitude of gratitude is seen as an act of worship and a source of joy, regardless of one's circumstances.

Practicing Thanksgiving as a Form of Worship

The act of giving thanks is a form of worship that acknowledges God's sovereignty over all situations. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In making thanksgiving a routine practice, individuals are able to shift their focus from their problems to the faithfulness and provision of God. This discipline strengthens their spiritual resilience and fosters a heart of worship that transcends their immediate feelings or challenges.

Finding Joy in the Lord Despite Problems

Joy is not dependent on one's external situation but on a steadfast relationship with the Lord. The Bible urges believers to "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

When they find their joy in the Lord, they can experience contentment and peace even amidst trials. Such a steadfast joy is possible when they cultivate gratitude for the blessings they do have, both great and small. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's love and faithfulness[ https://justbetweenus.org/everyday-life/faith-and-feelings/cultivating-a-thankful-heart/ ].

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Approaching Biblical “Problems”

Other essays.

When approaching what seems to be a “problem” in the Bible, we must approach the Bible as the word of an ultimately incomprehensible God, for which the context of the passage within the whole of the Bible and within the history of redemption, and the attitude of the interpreter is of the utmost importance.

When attempting to further understand a “problem” in Bible, one must approach the text with an attitude that is fitting for the nature of the biblical text as the word of God. This approach can be described further through three perspectives: normative , situational , and existential . The normative perspective forces us to accept that the God who speaks in Scripture has authority over us, rather than the other way around. Furthermore, this God is incomprehensible, which means that there will always be mysteries in the Bible that we cannot reconcile. Examining the situational perspective will force us to slow down and patiently investigate the greater context of the “problem.” The existential perspective identifies the attitudes with which we approach the word of God, whether that be one of pride or discouragement at the mysteries that we encounter.

How should we deal with problems in the Bible? Most readers of the Bible eventually notice something that looks like a “problem.” Many of the problems involve apparent discrepancies. These can take several forms. Sometimes a person may see tensions or apparent discrepancies between two verses. Sometimes there is a tension between something in the Bible and a claim from an extrabiblical source—a scientist or a historian or an ethicist or a philosopher. Sometimes we meet tensions in doctrine. For example, how can one God also be three persons?

When we meet challenges like these, how are we supposed to respond?

Basic truths about humanity

We may begin with some basic truths about who we are. We are human beings made in the image of God. All of us are responsible before God, who is king over all (Ps. 103:19). When we meet challenges with respect to the Bible, our response should be a response that is faithful to God and to who he is. It should be an ethically upright response. But how to do we do that?

Three aspects of the challenge

John M. Frame has helpfully shown that human decision-making in ethics involves three aspects, which can be explicitly represented by using three perspectives : the normative perspective, the situational perspective, and the existential perspective. The normative perspective on ethics focuses on the norms for human action, attitudes, and character. The ultimate norm is the goodness of God himself, and subordinately the norms are found in God’s instructions in his word, the Bible. Second, the situational perspective focuses on the situation, which is the world around us. The situational perspective asks what promotes the glory of God within the situation. Third, the existential perspective focuses on human attitudes and motives. Our motive should be love—love for God, and subordinately love for neighbor (Matt. 22:37–40).

How do we apply these three perspectives when we meet with apparent problems in the Bible?

Norms for Dealing with Problems

The normative perspective draws attention to God himself, as the ultimate standard for truth and for ethics.

1. God Speaking:  When God speaks, he speaks authoritatively. He speaks to us in the Bible. Other resources (B. B. Warfield and Kevin DeYoung, below, as well as others) discuss the fact that the Bible is the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17). As such, it is authoritative, with the authority of God himself. We should believe that it is reliable even before we dip into the details of a particular verse or a particular doctrine in the Bible. If we feel ourselves beset by doubts, we should confess that to God, rather than trying to hide it. Just believing that God is true in his word does not make the problems go away, of course. But it sets a healthy spiritual context for dealing with the problems.

2. The Incomprehensibility of God:  Reckoning with God helps us in another way. God communicates clearly in the Bible concerning the main things that we need to know for our salvation, but not everything is equally clear. God himself is incomprehensible , meaning that we, as finite creatures, cannot ever understand him completely. We cannot penetrate to the very bottom of all that he is by understanding him comprehensively. Only God understand himself completely. That means that there will be mysteries in the Bible that we cannot solve.

For example, the mystery of the Trinity is one unsolvable mystery. It is a permanent mystery, because only God knows himself completely. We do not fully understand how God can be one God in three persons. If people try to unravel the mystery, they end up thinking that they can virtually be a god in their understanding of God. And then their pride leads them into heresy.

Mysteries also arise because some doctrines in the Bible are intrinsically deep and difficult: “There are some things in them [the letters of the Apostle Paul] that are hard to understand , which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:16).

Finally, mysteries may arise merely because we do not have enough information. For example, when we see an apparent discrepancy between two accounts of the healing of the Gadarene demoniacs, we may or may not be able to find a satisfactory explanation because we were not there and we do not know all the details about what happened.

Examining the Situation

Next we may consider what benefit comes from a situational focus. When we find a problem in the Bible, and we have time to try to understand it, we need to gather as much relevant information as we can.

Detailed wording

Does the passage in question really say what we think it says? We need to take a close look. It may be that there are ambiguities or obscurities that do not fully come out in the translation that we most often use.

Literary Context

We need also to look at the larger literary context. How does the context in a paragraph and a whole book help to show us what is really meant?

1. Topic and universe of discourse:  Consider one example. Ps. 93:1 says, “the world is established, it shall never be moved.” Does this verse contradict Copernican astronomical theory? We need to look at the context. It is poetry. It is part of a song offering praise to the Lord. It does not offer a technical comment on astronomical theory, but evidence for the Lord’s faithfulness, drawn from ordinary experience. The ground underneath us is stable, thanks to the Lord’s providential rule over all things. The language is the language of everyday human experience, not the language of technical astronomy.

2. Deliberate use of Tension:  Sometimes a text deliberately sets up a puzzle, in order to invite further reflection. For example, consider the pair of proverbs in Prov. 26:4–5:

Answer not a fool according to his folly

  lest you be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

  lest he be wise in his own eyes.

It would be easy to claim that we have here an outright contradiction. But the two verses have been placed side by side so that we might think more carefully and deeply about how to answer a fool wisely. The presence of the explanatory clauses beginning with “lest” helps to define complementary purposes in how to answer. In effect, the first proverb says, “Do not fall into folly by answering a fool purely on his own level.” The second says, “But do search for a response that attempts to shake him out of his folly.” Doing one or both of these is not easy. But it does not mean it is not possible.

When we interpret these verses, we need a literary sensitivity that explores complex meanings. We should resist impatiently and superficially deciding that we have an impossible contradiction. A sensitive response also requires us to think about life itself—about conversations, about fools, and about how wisely to advise people who are not wise in receiving advice.

3. Context in the History of Redemption:  We also need to take into account the full sweep of God’s plan for history. For example, it would be easy to claim that there is a contradiction between the restrictive food laws in Lev. 11 and Jesus’ teaching in Mark 7, according to which “he declared all foods clean” (verse 19). How do we reconcile these two texts?

We must take into account that, according to the purpose of God, these two texts belong to two distinct epochs in the history of redemption. Leviticus 11 belongs to a larger system of symbolic ordinances. The distinction between clean and unclean foods symbolically depicts the distinction between holiness and sinfulness. The symbols in Leviticus point forward to the holiness of Christ, who comes to fulfill the Old Testament (Matt. 5:17). Once Christ has come, the symbolism in unclean foods finds its fulfillment in the holiness of Christ, and then subordinately in the holiness of the people who belong to Christ. The earlier rules about foods have served their purpose, and we do not need to observe them today when we eat (1 Tim. 4:3-4).

4. Consulting Others:  As part of our situation we may also consider the writings and researches of other Christians, not only in our own generation but in all previous generations. Christian believers have been writing commentaries on the Bible for centuries. Almost all the problems that we encounter have already been encountered before, in previous centuries. Commentaries, Bible encyclopedia articles, and systematic theologies often not only note the problems, but offer solutions. In fact, we can find not one but multiple possible solutions to many of the problems that we encounter. Not all the solutions may look attractive. But knowing that other Christians have already wrestled with the problems is reassuring. And frequently we may find at least one suggested solution that might actually be right. It may be something that our own limited reflection has not considered.

Examining our Attitudes

Next, we may consider the existential perspective, which focuses on attitudes and motives. With what attitudes do we approach a problem that we find in the Bible?

Do we approach the Bible with an arrogant attitude, with assurance that we are smart enough to solve the problem? Or, if we find no solution, do we think we are smart enough to declare that there can be no solution and that there must be an error in Scripture? Or are we willing to be patient?

Or consider another challenge with attitudes. Are we willing to endure scorn from people who say that we are naive or stupid because we cling to the authority of God’s word? Are we willing to endure intellectual suffering when we cannot seem to find any reasonable solution to a problem?

Consolation

It is helpful to realize that experience with challenges in the Bible can be used by God for our good. It can help us grow in humility, in dependence on God, in patience, and in appreciation for the role of suffering in the Christian life. Our suffering can enhance an appreciation of Christ’s suffering for us (Phil. 3:10).

Further Reading

• Augustine, The Harmony of the Gospels, in vol. 6 of A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church
• Benjamin B. Warfield, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible
• Gleason L. Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties
• John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
• John M. Frame, “ A Primer on Perspectivalism (Revised 2008) ”
• Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me
• International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, “ The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy ”
• Norman L. Geisler, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties
• R. A. Torrey, Difficulties and Alleged Errors and Contradictions in the Bible
• Vern S. Poythress, Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization
• Vern S. Poythress, Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible
• Vern S. Poythress, Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach
• Westminster Confession of Faith , ch. 1

This essay is part of the Concise Theology series. All views expressed in this essay are those of the author. This essay is freely available under Creative Commons License with Attribution-ShareAlike, allowing users to share it in other mediums/formats and adapt/translate the content as long as an attribution link, indication of changes, and the same Creative Commons License applies to that material.

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Thrive In 5: Intellectual – A Biblical Pattern for Problem Solving 

Dr. Eric Hallett | August 15, 2023 | Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5

A Biblical Pattern for Problem Solving

As Pastoral leaders, we often encounter a myriad of problems that test our resilience, problem-solving skills, and ability to adapt. Whether they arise in our personal lives, academic pursuits, or mission endeavors, ministry problems can be daunting. However, by understanding and embracing a Biblical pattern of problem-solving, we can navigate these hurdles with greater confidence.

Here are five steps for problem-solving based on the life of Moses.

• Engage Reality. The first step in addressing any problem is acknowledging its existence. Instead of avoiding or denying the problems we face, it is crucial to engage the reality of the situation. In Exodus, Moses was seeking to lead and protect Israel. But he had to face the reality of his failure when he murdered an Egyptian, a failure that resulted in a greater risk to his own people. In our ministries, we encounter problems that are beyond our ability, and it is vital we recognize this reality. My favorite quote on this topic comes from Max Depree in The Art of Leadership where he writes: “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality”. What is a seemingly impossible problem you are facing in your ministry?
• Escape Pressure: When faced with a problem, it can be tempting to fixate on the negative aspects. Seeking perspective, however, allows us to broaden our understanding and find alternate viewpoints. It may seem counterintuitive, but seeking perspective is facilitated when pressure is minimized. Moses may have been escaping Egypt to save his own life, but spending time in the wilderness also relieved the tension and enabled him to gain perspective. Author, Robert Fritz, in the book, Your Life as Art, recommends looking at problem solving through the image of a rubber band in tension. “In the beginning of our creative process there is a contrast between our desired state (our vision of the outcome we want to create) and our current situation (where we are now in relationship to that outcome). If we are successful, at the end of the creative process the desired state and the current state are the same, ending the contrast and resolving the tension.” Consider how you will escape pressure in order to seek perspective.
• Embrace the “Aha”.  As a pastor, I found the development of sermons to be a repeating problem or challenge. Author, Eugene Lowry in his book, The Homiletical Plot, writes about the “Aha” moment in sermons but there is also an “Aha” moment in developing sermons. When you have the “Aha”, the whole project of preparation shifts from finding the idea to developing the idea. Moses was given one of the greatest “Aha” moments in history at the ‘Burning Bush.’ The impossible problem of liberating Israel shifted from Moses having no solution to knowing the path for success. God is the one who solves our problems when we engage reality and escape pressure giving God space to meet us and show us the way forward. Pray for God to show you solutions with Moses-style ‘Aha’ moments.
• Execute the insurmountable with courage. Moses received his instructions at the burning bush, but he still had to act in obedience and respond to God’s guidance. He still faced multiple setbacks, but he endured because God provided the solution to the problem. As pastoral leaders, it is our privilege to act once God shows us the path either through His Word, one of His saints, or through the Holy Spirit. Rather than viewing setbacks as failures, perceive them as learning opportunities. What is an action you can take today in obedience to God’s direction?
• Enjoy The New Reality. Too often as Pastors, we experience victory over a problem or challenge and don’t take time to celebrate. When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, it was a time of celebration. The songs of triumph were sung and recorded for all time. This is the value of testimony and taking time to witness to brothers and sisters in Christ. God is sovereign and He is our problem solver when we follow His Biblical pattern. Take time today to celebrate a problem God has solved through you and for you by giving a public testimony this week.

For more information on the resources in this Five to Thrive see the following:

DePree, Max. Leadership Is an Art. Doubleday Business, 2004.

Fritz, Robert. Your Life as Art. Newfane Press, 2003.

Lowry, E. L. (2000). The homiletical plot. Westminster John Knox Press.

Intellectual contributor: Dr. Eric Hallett, district superintendent of the Central Canada District of The Wesleyan Church.

Executive editor: Johanna Rugh

Curator of content: Carla Working

Tags Thrive in Five , Thrive in 5 , Thrive in 5 Intellectual , Dr. Eric Hallett , A Biblical Pattern for Problem Solving

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15 Bible Verses that Prove God Will Solve All Your Problems

1. matthew 6:33, 2. philippians 4:6, 3. james 1:2-4, 4. romans 8:28, 5. psalm 46:1, 6. isaiah 41:10, 7. philippians 4:13, 8. 2 corinthians 12: 9-10, 9. psalm 34:17, 10. 1 peter 5:7, 11. proverbs 3:5-6, 12. jeremiah 29:11, 13. psalm 23:4, 14. matthew 11:28, 15. psalm 121:1-2, where in the bible does it say for every problem, there is a solution, god is bigger than our problems bible verses, god is the answer to all our problems in life, bible verse about problems and trials in life, god knows our problems bible verses, regardless of our problems god loves us, you may also like, what does the bible say about lazy employees, 25 encouraging bible verses for hope in hard..., what does the bible say about love, 18 important bible verses about anger, new living translation (nlt) vs. new international version..., 17 encouraging and inspirational bible verses for get..., bible verses about joy, bible verses about anxiety, bible verses about obeying god, 17 helpful bible verses about praying together.

God's Purpose Behind Your Problems

Rick Warren

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My troubles turned out all for the best. They forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine. Psalms 119:71-72 Close Psalms 119:71-72 My suffering was good for me,  for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me  than millions in gold and silver. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (Msg)

Life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them.

Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you - Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30 Close Proverbs 20:30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;*  such discipline purifies the heart. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (GN)

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you - People are like teabags if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you?

When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. ( James 1:2-3 Close James 1:2-3 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , NCV)

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you - Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something - health, money, a relationship - by losing it.

It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. ( Psalms 119:71-72 Close Psalms 119:71-72 My suffering was good for me,  for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me  than millions in gold and silver. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , LB)

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you - A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend of mine was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when his boss actions were uncovered.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good . ( Genesis 50:20 Close Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , NIV)

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. - Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity.

We can rejoice when we run into problems they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. ( Romans 5:3-4 Close Romans 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , LB)

Here's the point: God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him!

About The Author

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA., a congregation that now averages 16,000 in attendance each weekend. Rick is also author of The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, and founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for those in ministry. More

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99 Bible Verses about Problem-Solving

Here are 99 Bible verses about problem-solving, curated from both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, King James Version , arranged from most to least relevant.

Related topic: solving problems

Philippians 4:6 KJV

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Full Chapter | Parallel Translations | Explain Verse

Proverbs 3:5 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Matthew 18:15-18 KJV

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear …

Philippians 4:13 KJV

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Psalm 50:15 KJV

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Proverbs 3:6 KJV

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Matthew 7:7 KJV

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mark 11:22-25 KJV

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, …

1 John 1:9 KJV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 4:19 KJV

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

John 3:16 KJV

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Luke 17:3-4 KJV

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

James 5:16 KJV

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

John 14:6 KJV

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Luke 6:27 KJV

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

John 15:5-6 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Acts 17:30 KJV

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Matthew 7:16-20 KJV

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into …

Psalm 23:1-6 KJV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. …

Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of …

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Matthew 28:20 KJV

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 11:11 KJV

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Romans 8:28 KJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

James 1:2-4 KJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

John 14:26 KJV

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Luke 21:15 KJV

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalm 23:6 KJV

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Numbers 15:13 KJV

13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

Exodus 20:13 KJV

13 Thou shalt not kill.

Psalm 24:1-10 KJV

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. …

John 1:19-25 KJV

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an …

James 1:5 KJV

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

John 1:11 KJV

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Deuteronomy 18:18 KJV

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

John 16:33 KJV

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Matthew 18:15-17 KJV

Proverbs 18:10 kjv.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Deuteronomy 18:15 KJV

15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Exodus 32:1-35 KJV

1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, …

Isaiah 60:1-22 KJV

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and …

Proverbs 1:1-33 KJV

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase …

Genesis 16:12 KJV

12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Ecclesiastes 8:5-8 KJV

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; …

Exodus 20:25 KJV

25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

Galatians 6:2-12 KJV

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the …

1 Corinthians 15:26 KJV

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

John 3:16-17 KJV

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Genesis 2:1-25 KJV

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 4 These are the generations …

James 1:1-27 KJV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. …

Proverbs 18:13 KJV

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Psalm 34:18 KJV

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Ephesians 5:25 KJV

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Acts 8:22 KJV

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Galatians 6:2 KJV

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

John 13:16 KJV

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Revelation 1:1 KJV

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 3:2 KJV

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Galatians 6:1 KJV

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Matthew 19:6 KJV

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

James 1:19 KJV

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Ephesians 5:33 KJV

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

John 3:1-36 KJV

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. …

Psalm 121:1-2 KJV

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 46:1 KJV

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

James 1:2-3 KJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Ephesians 5:25-33 KJV

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as …

Matthew 7:24-27 KJV

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which …

1 Peter 3:1 KJV

1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

Matthew 18:1-35 KJV

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as …

1 Chronicles 5:1-26 KJV

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:) 3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the …

1 John 4:7-8 KJV

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

James 1:3 KJV

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Ephesians 6:11 KJV

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

John 1:12 KJV

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Matthew 5:23-24 KJV

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Hebrews 4:2 KJV

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures …

Philippians 4:9 KJV

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Ephesians 6:11-16 KJV

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done …

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body …

Acts 8:2 KJV

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

John 3:2 KJV

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Matthew 10:34 KJV

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 7:2 KJV

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 5:44 KJV

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Hebrews 11:6 KJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV

17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

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62 Bible Verses about Problem Solving

Want to know what the Bible says about Problem Solving ? Here are 62 Bible verses about Problem Solving from the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, New International Version ( NIV ) , sorted from the most relevant to the least relevant.

Use the up or down arrow next to each verses to vote for this topic. Your input is important for us to improve it.

Note : Always check the context of a verse; Click the "Read Full Chapter" button next to each verse to read more. The context of a verse might put a very different slant on what the verse seems to say.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Proverbs 3:5 niv, matthew 18:15-18 niv, philippians 4:13 niv, proverbs 3:6 niv, psalm 50:15 niv, matthew 7:7 niv, mark 11:22-25 niv, 1 john 1:9 niv, john 3:16 niv.

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16 Bible Verses about Problem Solving

Most Relevant Verses

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Nun. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Be angry, and yet do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation.” Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. read more. Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message. But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Bible Theasaurus

• Problem ( 11 instances )
• Solving ( 2 instances )

Related Topics

• Acknowledging God
• Asking For Help
• Bad Influence
• Becoming More Like Christ
• Being Afraid
• Being Grateful
• Being Thankful For Blessings
• Giving Thanks
• Knowing God's Will
• Mental Health
• Nervousness
• Not Worrying
• Sin Confessed
• Taking Risks With Faith
• Thanksgiving And Gratitude
• Trusting God And Not Worrying
• Trusting God's Plan
• Wisdom And Guidance
• Working Together
• Worrying About The Future
• Supplication
• 4 more topics on Problem
• 1 more topics on Solving

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25 Bible Verses About Problem Solving (NIV)

This is a hand-curated and ranked list of the most relevant Bible verses about Problem Solving (NIV). Verses are ranked by number of votes.

Other Translations

• English Standard Version (ESV)
• New International Version (NIV)
• King James Version (KJV)

Bible Verses About Problem Solving

Philippians 4:6.

Bible Gateway

Proverbs 3:5

Matthew 18:15-18, philippians 4:13, proverbs 3:6, psalm 50:15, matthew 7:7, mark 11:22-25, 1 john 4:19, 2 peter 3:9, luke 17:3-4, ecclesiastes 1:2, 2 timothy 3:16, john 15:5-6, matthew 7:16-20, psalm 23:1-6, galatians 5:19-21, romans 8:28, matthew 11:11.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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100 Bible Verses about Problems

John 16:33 esv / 108 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 106 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 75 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 65 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 10:16 ESV / 65 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 63 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 63 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

John 10:10 ESV / 47 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 38 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Proverbs 12:25 ESV / 38 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Psalm 46:1 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Luke 14:28 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

John 16:23-24 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 21:20 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Luke 16:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Psalm 77:1-15 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. ...

Proverbs 17:22 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

James 1:5-8 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Romans 13:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 8:31-32 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Mark 9:29 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Matthew 12:33-34 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Psalm 86:6-8 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Give ear, O Lord , to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

Colossians 3:23-25 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Psalm 57:1-2 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

James 2:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

John 8:31 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Matthew 17:19-20 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 13:58 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Isaiah 54:17 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord .”

Isaiah 26:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Malachi 3:8-11 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

Proverbs 13:22 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Psalm 51:16-17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:1-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. ...

Psalm 26:1-12 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Of David. Vindicate me, O Lord , for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord , and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. ...

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Luke 6:36-38 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Mark 11:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Jeremiah 39:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord .’”

Jeremiah 29:11-12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

Isaiah 58:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord ?

Isaiah 55:7-9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 91:14-16 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 7:9-12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

Jude 1:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

1 Peter 5:8-11 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Romans 12:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 8:31-32 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Jeremiah 17:5-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord . He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord 's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he may be glorified.

Proverbs 3:31-32 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord , but the upright are in his confidence.

Psalm 86:14-16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

Psalm 84:10-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Psalm 51:10-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Psalm 50:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 34:12-14 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Job 5:17-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.

Genesis 21:16-19 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

1 Peter 3:9-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Corinthians 1:9-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

Romans 1:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

John 1:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He was in the beginning with God.

Luke 6:30-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Mark 5:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 6:31-34 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Micah 6:7-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Ezekiel 34:12-13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Jeremiah 32:26-27 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the Lord , the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , whose trust is the Lord . He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Isaiah 58:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 41:17-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Proverbs 29:25-26 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

Proverbs 28:9-10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

Proverbs 26:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

Proverbs 15:3-4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 14:29-30 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Proverbs 6:12-15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

Psalm 125:2-3 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord , “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

Ruth 1:1-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. ...

Genesis 16:13-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

James 5:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

James 4:9-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Joshua 1:5-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

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The CrowdStrike Failure Was a Warning

Digital disaster should not happen so easily.

Crucial systems across the world collapsed on Friday, triggered by one mistake in a single company. The CrowdStrike outage hit banks, airlines, and health-care systems. It may end up being the worst information-technology disaster in history.

This was not, however, an unforeseeable freak accident, nor will it be the last of its kind. Instead, the devastation was the inevitable outcome of modern social systems that have been designed for hyperconnected optimization, not decentralized resilience. We have engineered a world in which tiny, localized errors can cause global crisis. This precarious state of affairs is by human design—and can therefore be undone. But we are currently speeding toward much greater calamities than the CrowdStrike debacle.

There is often a trade-off between maximum optimization and resilience. Consider a rudimentary prehistorical social system in which many humans lived in small, isolated bands. They would never interact with other groups of humans hundreds, let alone thousands, of miles away. What any single person did would have little to no effect on those living elsewhere. It was an inefficient, basic system—but if one part of the human system failed, few others were affected.

Throughout our advancement as a species, from building empires to building machines, social systems have evolved to be more connected and centralized. Eventually, an emperor or a king could make a decision in a far-flung palace, and it would soon affect the lives of potentially millions of people. By the Industrial Revolution, trade routes and supply lines had become global. Disaster in one region could upend economies far away. This connectivity and coordination produced unprecedented innovation and prosperity. It was efficient. But it also amplified social risk.

Read: What the Microsoft outage reveals

In the 21st century, the combination of globalization and digitization has created a landscape characterized by the threat of catastrophic, instantaneous risk. Globalization enables large efficiency gains, as with just-in-time manufacturing, where a product can be assembled from carefully managed links in the global supply chain. But those systems lack resilience. Every link must fit together perfectly; the system falls apart if even one chain breaks. (This fragility became obvious when one boat blocked the Suez Canal in 2021, causing enormous damage to the global economy.)

Similarly, digital connectivity has unlocked significant innovations. But it has also meant that much of the world’s core operations rely on a tiny subset of companies and the software they develop. A few days ago, most people had never heard of CrowdStrike; now it’s impossible to ignore how many of our most basic forms of social infrastructure are stacked on top of sometimes precarious bits of computer code. It should bewilder us all that the structures  governing our lives were just fixed using a method only slightly more sophisticated than “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”

This time, the digital cataclysm was caused by well-intentioned people who made a mistake. That meant the fix came relatively quickly; CrowdStrike knew what had gone wrong. But we may not be so lucky next time. If a malicious actor had attacked CrowdStrike or a similarly essential bit of digital infrastructure, the disaster could have been much worse.

Centuries ago, the philosopher David Hume wrote that we can never be certain that the patterns of the past will remain the patterns of the future. As I argue in my book Fluke , this is especially true in the 21st century. We are gambling more and more of our world on unstable, volatile systems. Worse, we’re gambling with higher stakes in a time of social upheaval and structural change. Can we really trust our species to flawlessly govern unimaginably complex systems—systems we don’t always fully understand—that can be brought down by a single screw-up?

Read: Whoops! The internet broke.

CrowdStrike worked like clockwork—until it suddenly didn’t. And when you’re facing catastrophic risk, close to perfect isn’t good enough. Modern societies have discounted the cost of that risk because our current reward systems are geared toward optimization over resilience. Politicians try to deliver short-term improvements, not long-term planning. Nobody gets reelected by investing in a rainy-day fund. Even worse, for the few politicians who nonetheless focus on long-term planning, their opponents might be the ones who get credit for being prepared when the time comes to use the rainy-day fund. Similarly, business leaders can be hired or fired based on quarterly results. (The short-term focus of social systems is one reason climate change is such a thorny problem to solve. It requires immediate investment to avert a global cataclysm—but we won’t ever know which disasters we averted, because there’s only one version of Earth to observe. Who claims credit when a hurricane doesn’t happen?)

Even though the modern quest for optimization has too often made resilience an afterthought, it is not inevitable that we continue down the risky path we’re on. And making our systems more resilient doesn’t require going back to a disconnected, primitive world, either. Instead, our complex, interconnected societies simply demand that we sacrifice a bit of efficiency in order to allow a little extra slack. In doing so, we can engineer our social systems to survive even when mistakes are made or one node breaks down.

In the case of CrowdStrike, it’s an unwise choice to have so much critical infrastructure riding on one company or one batch of digital code. Societies will be less vulnerable if social systems rely on a more diverse digital array of companies, if those companies are required to follow more stringent testing for updates, and if critical infrastructure has more redundancy so that it can continue operating safely even when one component breaks. For the broader set of risks facing global society beyond digital ones, better regulation is essential to ensure fail-safes, backups, stress testing, and decoupling—so that a problem in one node of a system doesn’t bring down everything else. The CrowdStrike debacle is a clear warning that the modern world is fragile by design. So far, we have decided to make ourselves vulnerable. That means we can decide differently too.

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What Does the Bible Say about Abusive Relationships?

Marriage was made by God, but it is the sacred union of two imperfect people. The covenant promise we make on our wedding days is a forever promise to do all we can to love and serve each other well. Every marriage has its trials, but sometimes trials turn into something more ugly and even abusive.

God did not create marriage as an institution designed to trap you in an unhealthy and unsafe relationship. While we know divorce is always something we grieve, there are times when divorce is the step God is calling you to. Trust him to help you break free from a toxic situation.

It’s far too common for abusers to be unintentionally enabled, because there is not a robust understanding of God’s desire for his people to be in safe and healthy relationships. Many manipulate the scriptures that encourage us to be faithful to our vows as a way to shame us into staying in a bad marriage. Marriage was made to be a good gift to us and is not intended to be the chains that hold us trapped in a lifetime of traumatic interactions.

Oftentimes, the most gracious and loving thing you can do for your abuser is to break free from them. It is healthy for them to be confronted by their need for healing, and they are also released from the opportunity to harm their partner. The best hope is that bringing freedom, truth, and accountability into your relationship will one day lead to a brighter future for both those who have endured abuse as well as for the abuser. We all need grace and a chance to find our own healing.

When we find ourselves in a place we never imagined we would be, it's important to trust God with our spouse’s heart. God is good and big enough to take care of them. We are not enough to heal, cure, or change our partner when abuse is a part of their behavior patterns. Be brave and bring the darkness you have been facing into the light.

What Does the Bible Say about Abuse?

Proverbs 22:10 says, “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.” Proverbs is a book full of God-inspired wisdom which makes clear that when we are stuck in a situation of abuse, we need to break free from that person. When we “drive them out,” then the abuse will cease. The reality is that when certain lines have been crossed it becomes very important to place strong boundaries in that relationship in order to stay safe. We can love someone, forgive them, and also make sure we aren’t allowing them to harm us anymore.

2 Corinthians 6:14 states, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Paul was giving advice to the early church and telling them that if they were in a relationship with someone whose heart was dark, they were free to separate from that person.

Our walk with God is more important than remaining chained to an individual who is far from him and causing us harm. 1 Corinthians 7:15 adds, “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.” Your peace matters to God. If you find yourself in a relationship where your partner has moved away from God and is causing you harm, the Bible says it’s best to separate.

Psalm 11:5 says, “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” God hates wicked acts of violence. They are not a part of his good plan for us. Hate is a very strong word and that's the word he uses when it comes to violence. Under no circumstance does God desire us to stay in a violent relationship.

Galatians 5:19-20 explains, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality , impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” All of these behaviors go outside of what is best for our bodies and our relationships. If we are in a situation where our partner is engaging in these practices or pushing us into these kinds of activities, we need to reach out for help. God tells us these things are not of the kingdom of God and do not belong in our homes or marriages.

God Calls Us to Find Freedom

Psalm 9:9 proclaims, “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” God is there as our strong tower when we need help. He shows up in our time of need and is there to open the doors to bring us to freedom. Sometimes the road is long, hard, and ugly, but we have to keep moving towards his way.

Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” God has set us free when we accept him as our Lord. Do not put yourself in a situation in which you give yourself back over to being enslaved by evil. He desires for you to experience his goodness, grace, and love in the land of the living.

A Prayer for Freedom from Abuse

We see clearly that you hate when violence is happening between people. You hate when evil enters our homes and one person begins to control and dominate another due to their own brokenness. We ask that by your power you would break the chains of abuse in this relationship. Show everyone involved a path to freedom. Bring healing rather than brokenness, light instead of hiding in the dark. Help everyone involved to be brave, walking by your strength. Bring wisdom, resilience, support, and clarity to this relationship. Set them free from the chains of violence and unsafe interactions.

Amen. 

Reach Out for Help

If you or someone you know is stuck in an abusive relationship, reach out to get support. Talk to the people who love you and who you can trust, and make a plan that will lead to your freedom. You can also contact the  Domestic Violence Support Hotline for immediate help.

Related article : 5 Clear Reasons Pastors Must Preach on Domestic Violence

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