Solving Problems Through Prayer
Becoming a Christian does not eliminate problems; rather, it provides a powerful asset for solving them. In a fallen world marked by sin, promises are often broken, people change, and challenges will inevitably arise. These problems range from small issues to seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Dr. Charles Stanley offers a structured, biblically based pattern to handle every problem the right way, rather than merely reacting based on emotion.
Stanley encourages listeners to write down eight specific sentences that form this pattern, emphasizing that having a consistent, God-centered method is superior to relying on momentary feelings. This proven strategy is drawn from the example of King Jehoshaphat in the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles, who faced a problem that was “way over his head”.
The Context: Jehoshaphat’s Impossible Problem (H2)
King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a good king blessed by God. However, he received news that the armies of three tribes—Moab, Ammon, and the Meunites—were coming to make war against him. He was heavily outnumbered, realizing there was “no simple solution” to this overwhelming threat. Jehoshaphat’s response provides a clear pattern for anyone facing problems that seem impossible or insurmountable.
The Eight Principles of Problem-Solving Prayer (H2)
Stanley outlines eight simple yet crucial principles derived from Jehoshaphat’s actions that guide believers in tackling any problem, regardless of size, pain, or unpredictability:
1. God is Interested in Your Problem (H3)
No matter what you are facing, God is personally interested in your problem. The first thing Jehoshaphat did upon receiving the news of the invading army was to seek the Lord. This action proves that he believed God was interested in his circumstances.
If a believer feels that God is too busy, or that their problem is too small or insignificant, they will not believe that God is paying attention, rendering prayers ineffective. The bottom line is: He is interested.
2. God is Greater Than Your Problem (H3)
No matter the nature or duration of the difficulty, God is absolutely greater than that problem. This confidence is critical, especially when facing seemingly innumerable challenges, like the armies threatening to destroy Judah. Stanley reminds believers of Jeremiah 32, which states that God made the heavens and the earth by His great power, and “Nothing is too difficult for You”.
Doubts and fears arise when one believes something in their life is bigger than God. But God is greater than every single thing that disturbs or bothers a follower of Christ. Because He is greater than what you are walking through, He can and will walk you through it and get you through it.
3. Seek the Lord First (H3)
The first, and most important, response to any problem should be to seek the Lord. When Jehoshaphat was afraid, he “turned his attention to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah”. Stanley notes that seeking the Lord was Jehoshaphat’s habit and a priority in his life.
When you prioritize seeking the Lord, your problems begin to get smaller and smaller because God becomes “larger and larger” in your thinking. It is common for people to exhaust every other avenue to find a solution, only coming to God as a “last resort,” when it should be the “first choice”.
Stanley suggests that the first word out of a believer’s mouth when a problem hits should be “Father”. This sets the direction for how the issue will be handled, inviting God’s “supernatural power and all of His love and devotion” into the situation.
4. Involve Other People (H3)
God may desire to involve other people in prayers about problems. Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah and gathered the nation to seek help from the Lord. Jehoshaphat knew the invading army was not just his problem, but the problem of the whole nation.
There are two primary reasons God involves others:
- Strengthened Faith: When others pray for you and witness God performing a wonderful work in your life, their faith is strengthened.
- Personal Growth: Seeing God deal with others’ problems serves as a reminder that “You did it for them, You’ll do it for me”. This collective involvement allows God’s people to grow by watching Him work in the lives of others.
5. God Will Give You a Solution (H3)
If God was willing to give His Son to die for our sins and forgive us, He will certainly give us an answer to our problems and enable us to solve them through His guidance and direction.
A Word of Caution on Delays: God may delay the answer, not because He doesn’t care or doesn’t intend to answer, but for reasons focused on the believer’s inner growth. God is more interested in you becoming a godly person and being “conformed to the likeness of His Son” than He is in immediately solving your problem.
God sometimes waits until a believer gets past focusing only on the “problem, problem, problem” and realizes there is something in their life that should not be there. He loves you too much to give you what you want too quickly if you will miss what He wants to give you in return. God, being all-wise, knows that solving the external problem without dealing with the internal issue may cause the problem to “crop up again”.
6. Your Prayers Must Be God-Centered, Not Problem-Centered (H3)
Stanley stresses the importance of shifting focus from the severity of the problem to the greatness of God. Jehoshaphat’s prayer was filled with references to God, asking, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hands so that no one can stand against You”.
The more you talk about God, the smaller the size of the problem becomes. Focusing on God’s love, power, and greatness resurrects the awareness and faith that often gets buried under difficulty. This shift changes feelings and attitude, as God transforms lives often in the midst of problems.
7. God’s Solution Requires an Act of Faith (H3)
God’s solution usually requires an act that challenges the believer’s faith. In response to Jehoshaphat’s prayer, God sent a prophet to declare, “This is not your battle, this is God’s battle”. God then gave the seemingly impossible instruction: assemble the choir and orchestra, place them in front of the army, and march out singing and praising God.
This was a tremendous act of faith, requiring the choir to face the battle without fighting. Because they obeyed and trusted Him, God confused the enemy armies, causing them to destroy each other. The victory was already won when God gave the instruction. If God asks you to do something difficult or impossible, the issue is simply: “Am I willing to trust Him?”.
8. God’s Solution is Always Best (H3)
No matter the issue, the believer could never solve the problem as effectively as God can. Human perspective is limited by what we see and feel; we don’t know all the “ins and outs” or what happened years before. God’s solution is always the best one if you are willing to trust Him.
Problems can be awesome pathways to spiritual growth that good times will never provide. Instead of fretting and fearing, problems should be seen as opportunities for God to demonstrate His power, and for the believer to learn, grow, and know Him in a deeper way.
Stanley warns non-Christians that none of these eight steps will work for them because rejecting the Father and the Son means they cannot expect His power to come into their life. He challenges them to ask Christ to forgive them and receive Him as Savior. The eight simple steps provide a pattern that guarantees success for believers: “You cannot lose if you follow those eight steps”.