How To Solve Your Problems

Hello beloved child of God, I hope you’re fine by God’s grace.

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to solve your problems when you are anxious or depressed ?

In general when you feel bad, you don’t want to solve your problems. You just want to escape from all those and avoid them.

Unfortunately, avoiding your problems doesn’t solve them, actually while you’re avoiding them, they’re growing.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like having problems, and you may feel confused when it comes to developing an action plan to solve them.

Thank God, I’ve learned a new method from the Anxiety and Depression Workbook for Dummies to solve problems, and that’s what this blog post is about. A simple yet genuine methodology you can apply to tackle your problems.

The Anxiety and Depression Workbook for Dummies isn’t a Christian book but a psychological book, but I’ve seen very nice principles in that book, and I’ve adapted them for Christians.

So, obviously, the very first step is to pray God to guide you in the process, and actually it’s something which will require that you constantly pray to God to guide you in every single step.

The method is called the S.O.C.C.E.R Method.

Let’s break this down as we explain it.

S: Situation

Start by analyzing the situation, the nature and causes of the problem.

It’s better to write these things down. What’s the problematic situation, what’s its nature, what caused it according to you?

You may consider reading books and articles or searching the Internet for helpful insights, and record any relevant information you find. Include as much information you can concerning possible causes of your problems.

Once you have clearly written out your situation, make sure to present it to God in prayer. Tell Him what your problem is, cast all your cares upon Him.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

O:Options

What are your possible options for addressing this problem? (By the way not doing anything is a choice)

You need to write as many options as possible. You may discuss with friends, colleagues and loved ones to brainstorm your different options.

However, do not forget that if you are a Christian, The Holy Spirit of God lives in you and if you ask Him, He will counsel you in this process.

Isaiah 11:2‭-‬3 NIV

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord — and he will delight in the fear of the Lord . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

C: Consequences Or Results

Analyze each option and try to figure out the consequences which are most likely to occur for each option.

You have to remain realistic while doing this. It should help you in the process of making a decision.

Write down both positive and negative consequences. Here again, if you’re a Christian you can count on The Holy Spirit who lives in you to reveal to you even things which you may not have imagined could be consequences to your choice.

C: Choosing Which Option To Go With

Once you’ve figured out your options, and the consequences which may go with each option, you have to make a choice.

Choosing may seem difficult because every choice may have positive and negative consequences.

Nevertheless, you have to make a choice for yourself. (Choosing to do nothing about it is also a choice).

Here, you definitely need discernment from The Holy Spirit, because on your own you may have the impression that you’re making the best choice while you’re wrong. The Holy Spirit knows your future, He knows what you really need, and He is The One who knows what will be the best choice for you.

Proverbs 14:12 NIV

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

When you’re about to make a choice, turn to Him and ask Him for discernment, Ask Him to help you make the right choice. Ask Him for wisdom in decision making, He will not refuse it from you.

James 1:5‭-‬7 NIV

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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NIV

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.

E: Emotional Plan

You need to have an emotional plan for dealing with the solution you choose.

At times you make decisions which are really important, but you fail to take action because you lack courage, because you’re stressed or afraid to try.

If the option you chose makes you tremble, you can pray to ask God for peace.

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Once you have prayed, you can try rehearsing the situation in your mind. Rehearse it out loud alone or with a friend before doing it.

Also, make sure to talk your self into it. Speak to your soul like king David did, tell your soul to calm down, encourage yourself and tell yourself that this is the right thing to do. Self talk is very important.

Psalm 42:5 NIV

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

When your breathing rate increases when you’re trying to do the right thing, learn to practice breathing exercises to relax yourself as you’re doing the right thing.

R: Running And Reviewing Your Plan

Once you’ve made a choice, do what you chose to do prayerfully.

Once you’ve started doing it, observe and review to see the results which you have achieved through it.

Your plan may or may not work. You may have to modify it little by little, but it’s important to track where you’re going and what the results are.

This will generate praise reports and more prayer requests probably.

Example : Sample S.O.C.C.E.R plan

Here below is a sample soccer plan

Conclusion

If you feel confused and discouraged every time you have a problem, you can learn to solve your problems prayerfully using the S.O.C.C.E.R method.

Make sure to involve The Holy Spirit in every step of your problem solving, and to thank God once your problems are solved. Also, don’t get discouraged when you don’t get immediate results, learn from your mistakes and keep trusting God, going further, and applying the S.O.C.C.E.R method.

Prayer

Father Lord God Almighty, King of Glory, I open my heart to You from this day forward to tell You my problems to I rely on Your Holy Spirit to help me solve them, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.

It’s Now Your Turn

What’s the most urgent problem you have to solve right now?

Let me know in the comments section so that I can pray for you.

Please don’t forget to share this blog post on your social media accounts and to invite your friends and family members to join us as we’re waging war against depression. You may save a life by sharing.

If you’ve not done it yet, subscribe to my Newsletter so as not to miss any post on depression and also, make sure to invite anyone whom you know is suffering from depression.

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Invitation

Click here if you’re looking for a church. I recommend Elevation Church to you. A wonderful Christ-centered Church in which you aren’t limited by your location and in which you can see what God can do through you.

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God bless you

Victoria Eyog