Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box

As women of faith we often face challenges that are overwhelming. We can get caught up in the difficulty of the moment, feeling like the problem is way too big to handle or that there’s no way out.

As I pray for friends and clients in the south hit by overwhelming disaster, the Lord keeps leading me to look higher. I sense Him leading me to think differently (yet, again).

“My daughter, what if the real issue isn’t the problem itself? What if the way you *think* about the problem is what’s holding you back, even in how you pray? And what if, instead of being stumbling blocks, the problems are actually seeds of opportunity waiting to grow my Kingdom?”

Granted, I sense the Lord weeping for those who are in deep loss. He reminds me that this is NOT His heart for His people to encounter such loss. He again reminds me that He is with them amidst the loss and to keep looking at Him, and to pray for them as HE LEADS me to pray for them.

He also reminds me…

The Bible is filled with stories of people facing insurmountable odds—circumstances that, by all accounts, looked like dead ends. Yet, these problems became the foundation for God’s incredible work in their lives. Let’s explore how our thinking about problems and challenges can shape our experience, and how we can learn to see every problem as an opportunity from God’s perspective.

1. Shift Your Focus: From Problem to Promise

When the Israelites faced the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in behind them, the problem seemed impossible. They saw death, defeat, and hopelessness. But God showed Moses something else. In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses says, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Moses understood that the problem was not the end of the story—it was an opportunity for God to reveal His power and deliver His people. This same principle applies to us. When we shift our focus from the problem to God’s promise, we can trust that He is working even when the situation seems impossible.

2. Problems as Seeds for Growth

Consider Joseph’s journey. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Joseph faced problem after problem. Yet, in Genesis 50:20, he looks back on all of it and says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

What looked like endless suffering was actually God preparing Joseph for a larger destiny. Joseph’s problems were the very seeds that led to his growth, maturity, and leadership in Egypt. His trials were not obstacles—they were opportunities for God’s plan to unfold.

Likewise, our problems may very well be the seeds for our own growth. James 1:2-4 tells us to “consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Each challenge, if approached with faith, is an opportunity to grow stronger and closer to the Lord.

3. Renew Your Mind: Transform Your Thinking

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world teaches us to see problems as dead ends, but God invites us to see them differently. Through the renewing of our minds, we can transform how we think about every challenge we face.

It’s important to ask ourselves: how am I thinking about this problem? Am I viewing it through the lens of fear, or through the lens of faith? By inviting the Holy Spirit into our thought process, we can gain a heavenly perspective on our challenges. Instead of being trapped by negative thinking, we can choose to align our thoughts with God’s truth and promises.

4. Embrace God’s Greater Purpose

Sometimes, the problems we face serve a greater purpose in God’s kingdom. Take Esther, for example. When her people were facing annihilation, she was thrust into a situation where she had to make a critical decision. Her problem wasn’t just a personal dilemma; it was a matter of life and death for an entire nation.

Mordecai’s words to Esther in Esther 4:14 remind us that God places us in challenging situations for a reason: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” The very problem you face today might be God positioning you to fulfill a greater purpose.

5. Trust in God’s Timing

It’s easy to feel impatient or discouraged when problems arise, but we must remember that God’s timing is perfect. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, is a prime example of this. She faced the heartache of infertility for years, yet God had a plan all along. In Genesis 21:1-2, we read, “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised.”

Though the wait was long and the problem seemed hopeless, God’s promise was fulfilled in His perfect time. The same is true for us. What seems like a problem or delay is often God setting the stage for His purpose to be revealed in our lives.

6. From Struggle to Strength

As women of faith, we can take heart in the fact that our problems are not the end of the story—they are part of God’s process to build strength, character, and faith in us. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 resonate deeply: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

God’s grace shines brightest when we are at our weakest. Every problem we face is an opportunity to lean into His strength, to grow in dependence on Him, and to allow His power to work through us.

Conclusion: Your Perspective Shapes Your Experience

Problems will come—that’s a given. But how we *think* about them is what determines our experience. Will we see problems as insurmountable obstacles, or will we choose to view them as opportunities for God to work? 

If you, reading this, are currently faced with a challenge, join me in pausing and asking the Lord:

“God, what are YOU doing here? What opportunity is hidden in this problem?”

As you renew your mind and shift your perspective, you’ll begin to see that God is always at work, using every problem to shape you into the woman He’s called you to be, and to build HIS Kingdom.

I remember learning years ago, that God never wastes a trial. He is with you in the storm, turning what seems like a problem into an opportunity for your good and His glory.

Scriptures to Reflect On:

– Exodus 14

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