My Biggest Problem and What to Do about It

“It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you.” Isaiah 59:2 (NCV)

Today, most cultures don’t think sin is ugly. In fact, many people think sin is fun!

Think about entertainment media. TV shows, social media memes, and movies often use sin for humor. This is Satan’s strategy: to get you to laugh at the same things that put Jesus on the cross. Satan disguises sin to make it look attractive. Rarely in media do you see sin’s consequences. 

If you want to know how ugly sin really is, look at the cross. Jesus’ suffering shows how much it takes to pay for my sins.

Sin has all sorts of consequences in life! Here are three of them:

Sin alienates me from God. Why? Because God is holy, and I am not. Isaiah 59:2 says, “It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you” (NCV). Sin always leaves estrangement in its wake, even between me and God. 

Sin creates significant stress in life. One of the greatest sources of stress is unrecognized and unresolved guilt. King David said, “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear” (Psalm 38:4 NIV). Holding on to sin takes an emotional toll. Breaking God’s laws leads to worry, fear, guilt, and insecurity.

Sin condemns me. When I violate God’s laws, there’s always a penalty—in both self-condemnation and judgment from a righteous God. Psalm 7:11 says, “God is a righteous judge and always condemns the wicked” (GNT). 

I may think my biggest problem is a relationship conflict, health issue, or trouble finding a job. But the reality is, my biggest problem is that I'm at war with God.

That’s why I often get frustrated! That’s why I can struggle to sleep at night. That’s why I'm stressed out. I wasn't made to live out of harmony with my Creator, who loves me. He made me, and he sent his Son to die for me. He wants me to be in harmony with him.

I need to turn around from and repent of my sin today—and every day—so that I can be at peace with God.

In summary:

Sin is often portrayed as harmless or even entertaining in today's culture, especially through various media that highlight its humor while ignoring its serious consequences. This trivialization is a tactic to desensitize us to the true nature of sin. However, the Bible teaches that sin has profound effects: it alienates us from God, introduces significant stress into our lives, and brings condemnation. Isaiah 59:2 emphasizes that our iniquities create a separation between us and God, hindering our relationship with Him. Similarly, Psalm 38:4 illustrates the overwhelming burden of guilt, comparing it to a load too heavy to bear. ​

Recognizing the gravity of sin is crucial. It not only disrupts my spiritual connection with God but also affects my mental and emotional well-being. Unresolved guilt can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of condemnation. Therefore, it's essential to acknowledge my sins, seek forgiveness, and strive for a life aligned with God's teachings. By doing so, I can restore my relationship with God and experience the peace that comes from living in harmony with His will.​

Knowing Who I Am Will Lower My Stress

In 1 John 3:1 it says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV)

We are all living in stressful times. More than ever, we need to learn resilience so that we can do what God has called us to do. That’s why the first step to being resilient is to remember how much God loves us. That’s the antidote to stress!

Part of fulfilling our purpose is becoming more like Jesus. And Jesus had no doubt in his mind that God the Father loved him. He talked about it over and over in verses like John 10:17, which says, “The Father loves me” (NLT).

Knowing and remembering that God has unconditional, extravagant, continuous, and never-ending love for me, just like he did for Jesus, is the foundation of a resilient life. As Paul says, “I am convinced that neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV). I can be resilient, knowing that I can never be separated from God’s love.

We may be thinking, “Well, of course God loves Jesus. That’s his Son.” But did you know that Jesus says the same thing about his love for us as God’s daughter or son? In John 15:9-10, Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (NIV).

Understanding how much God loves me is the basis of my personal security. If I’m not convinced that God loves me at all times—unconditionally and completely—then I’m going to be easy prey for the disapproval of others. I’m going to be a people pleaser.

But when I’m secure in who I am as God’s child—when I understand and accept how God feels about me—then I can face difficult times with confidence and less stress.

When I need to be reminded of how much God loves me, I can just look at his Word.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV). 

As a believer, my self-worth is based on the fact that God loves me and calls me his child. I am his child now, not just sometime in the distant future. Knowing that I am his child should encourage me to live as Jesus did. 

How to Fill Up on Gratitude

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

When I’m going through a season of great change and stress, how can I maintain joy?

What I’m learning is that I do it by developing the habit of thanking God for all that’s good, despite all that’s bad.

This principle is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). This means that I should develop an attitude of gratitude in every situation. It doesn’t mean that I have to be thankful for everything that happens to me, especially the bad things like cancer or car accidents. I don’t have to be thankful for all the evil in the world.

But every time I take a minute to express gratitude to God about anything—it could be my favorite music, nature spot, or Scripture—it helps refill my empty emotional tank so I can move forward in life. Choosing to be thankful is for my own good; it keeps me from getting bitter and helps me make it to the finish line.

Being grateful is easy when my emotional tank is full and things are going great in life. It’s much harder to find something to be thankful for when I’m facing a crisis or prolonged chronic stress. But that’s when I need to express gratitude the most.

The story of Job is a great example of gratitude during hard times. He was a wealthy and successful man, but he lost everything in a single day. He didn’t know why everything happened to him, and he had every reason to be angry and bitter. Despite this, he gratefully worshipped God. Even in his darkest moment, he fell to the ground and worshipped God, saying, “May the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21 NIV).

One of the most practical yet powerful habits I can develop is to make a daily gratitude list. Just sit down for five minutes each day and ask myself, “What am I grateful for?” It’s a habit that will strengthen my soul and keep me going when I feel like giving up.

Even in my darkest moments, we can follow Job’s example and gratefully worship God, knowing that his will for us is to give thanks in all circumstances.

In summary, my joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with my circumstances or feelings. Learning to obey three commands; to be joyful, never stop praying, and to be thankful, often go against my natural inclinations. However, when I make a conscious decision to do what God says, I will begin to see people and things in a new perspective. Doing God's will makes it easier to be joyful and thankful.

 

Don’t Put Off A Fresh Start

In Luke 9:62 it says, “Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’” (MSG)

In Mark 10, a huge crowd was following Jesus as he left Jericho. A man named Bartimaeus was blind and begging by the roadside. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47 NIV).

When Bartimaeus had gotten up that morning, he had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to pass by him that day. He thought it was just another ordinary day: same place, same cry for help, same situation.

But suddenly Jesus was there. Bartimaeus had no time to prepare or think through his response. It was just an opportunity that dropped in his lap. And he chose to seize the moment. He decided not to delay or procrastinate. He was going to do it—now.

The key to any fresh start in life is: Whatever you’re going to do, do it now. Don’t say, “Next year I’m going to make a fresh start” or “Next month I’m going to make some changes” or “Tomorrow I’m going to make that a priority.” It’s now or never. Seize the moment! 

Every day, I’m given opportunities for a fresh start, but I don’t always take advantage of them. Why? Because I procrastinate.

Procrastination is a strange phenomenon. You think it will make your life easier when it actually does just the opposite. It’s a stress generator!

When you know the right thing to do, today is the time to do it. Don’t assume you can wait for tomorrow.

The Bible warns over and over about presuming upon tomorrow. I’m not guaranteed a tomorrow, and neither are you. Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day” (Luke 9:62 MSG). 

I have no guarantee that I will live tomorrow. Whatever I’m going to do, I’d better do it now. 

Is Jesus inviting you into a fresh start today? Don’t delay. Follow the example of Bartimaeus and seize the moment.

In summary, Jesus asks for total dedication, not a half hearted commitment. I must be willing to abandon everything that has given me security, without looking back. I should not allow anything to distract me from doing what I need to do. I need to stay focused. The enemy will find ways to distract me, to keep me from doing the right thing or God's work. I must consider today what are the most important things in my life. I can then ask God to help me remain focused on what's most important.

Good Money Management Starts with Trusting God

In Philippians 4:19 it says, “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

If I want God to bless every area of my life, including my finances, then I need to be bless-able. I show God that I will be responsible when he does bless me.  

The first thing is to understand that God is my provider, regardless of where I work. He’s the one who supplies my every need—and he may do that through my employer.

If I think something or someone else is the source, then I’m always going to be nervous because that source may not come through for me; I can lose my job, money, or possessions.

But with God I never have to wonder if my needs are going to be met. Everything belongs to him anyway! Romans 11:36 says, “For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory” (TLB).

If one water faucet is turned off, God can easily turn on another. If I lose one job, he can give me another. If God closes one door, he can open another. If all the doors are closed, he can open a window.

When I understand that and I choose to trust God, I no longer have the stress of trusting in money and other people.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:19, “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV). God knows best what my needs are—and how to meet them. And he promises that he will meet every one of them!

Money management starts with this question: In whom or what do I place my trust?

When I place my trust in God, I can get up every morning and say, “God, it all belongs to you. It all comes from you. You are my provider—not anybody else—and I’m going to trust in you to meet my needs.”

Trusting in God will lower stress and will allow me to see how he wants to bless me as I trust him to meet my needs.

I must remember the difference between my wants and my needs. My natural inclination is to want to feel good and avoid discomfort / pain. I may not always get what I want. By trusting in Christ, my attitude and appetite can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for him. 

Get Rid of Stress by Giving Up Control

In Matthew 11:29-30 I read, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

If I’m living life on overload, It’s because I’m trying to control too much. I think it all depends on me. I believe things like, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me. I’ve got to hold it all together. I’ve got to make it all work.”

The truth is that I am not the general manager of the universe. The greater my need to control, the more stressed I’ll be.

Jesus has a different plan: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV).

But taking something else on? That too sounds like an addition to my burden. I don’t need to take on more. I’m already carrying way too much!”

We need to take another look at what Jesus is saying here in Matthew 11 when he tells me to take his yoke on myself. Not growing up on a farm, I have not really seen a yoke. A yoke is a single piece of wood that brings two farm animals together, so they can share the burden of a load. A yoke is not a harness. When you put a harness on one animal, it has to pull the whole load. But with a yoke, you team up two or more animals, so the load is shared; it’s lightened. A yoke makes life easier on the animal, not harder.

So when Jesus tells me to take his yoke upon myself, it’s like he’s saying, “I never meant for you to carry all your problems by yourself. Let me help you! Team up with me, partner with me, and I will help you carry the load.”

So If I’m feeling stressed right now in a situation, it means I’m not yoked to Jesus Christ. Stress is a warning sign. It tells me that I’m trying to control things and carry too much on my own.

Every time I get disconnected from Jesus, the stress in my life will go up. I may be a follower of Jesus Christ, but if I’m overloaded at this moment, I am not yoked up to him.

But every time I get reconnected and yoked up, Jesus helps me pull the load. And my stress goes down.

It’s tempting to think that the antidote to stress is escape. But the problem is that stress is in my mind—so I end up taking it with me wherever you go. I can be just as stressed lying on a white sandy beach as I am right in the middle of my problems at home.

The answer is to give up control, to accept the yoke of Jesus. And when I do, God will give me peace.