You are wise to bring your problems to God in prayer because He cares very much about what is happening in your life.  As we read in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.”  The Lord Jesus not only cares about your problems, He can also relate to them.  We read in Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  We know that the Lord Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross for us.  However, sometimes we start to wonder why our problems keep getting worse.

There could be many reasons why your problems are becoming more serious and painful.  It may be that the Lord is teaching you something that will result in glory to Him and blessing to many others.  He is working to make us more Christ-like, as we read in 2 Corinthians 3:18.  This verse says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  Everything in our lives is not good, but everything works together for good for the believer.  As we see in Romans 8:28, “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.”  We can be certain that the work that God is doing in our lives will be completed.  As we read in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

While going through difficult times, it is also important to ask the Lord if there is any sin that needs to be removed from our lives.  The increased intensity of the problems could be Him trying to get our attention.  As David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Going through a deep trial does not necessarily mean that we have sinned, but it is good to be humble and ask the Lord to search us.

Another precious verse is found in Romans 8:18.  This verse says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  Problems that are overwhelming now will not concern us when we are in the glory with our Savior.  However, the Lord is our refuge and helper as we go through difficult times.  As we read in Psalm 61:2, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  Who is the rock?  1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the “Rock was Christ.”  Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also promises to be with us through tough times.  He promises this in Isaiah 43:2, which says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.”

To review, please be encouraged to continue to pray to the Lord about your problems.  As we read in James 5:16, “The fervent supplication of the righteous man has much power.” (JND)  Ask the Lord what He might want you to learn through the difficult time and if there is any sin that He wants to remove from your life.  Be certain of His presence with you and that He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Ask the Lord to give you joy through your trials, that He would fashion you into the person that He wants you to be, and that your pain will result in praise to His precious name.  As we read in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”  (186.1)  (DJ)