God’s Answer to Every Problem
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ~Isaiah 9:6
Before Christmas, the world was a place of deep and gloomy darkness (Isaiah 9:1-2). Without the light of God, we did not know where we were going or even why we were trying to get there in the first place. Under the bondage of sin and Satan, we lived beneath the rod of an oppressive tyranny (Isaiah 9:4). Hateful and hating one another (Titus 3:3), we were surrounded by conflict (Isaiah 9:5). We were not at peace with others, and we were not at peace with ourselves.
God’s answer to all these problems was to wrap Himself up in the tender and innocent flesh of a baby. In that little child, He overcame stubborn rebellion with gentle persistence. He conquered hateful resistance with love. And He crushed our selfish determination to hold on to our lives by laying down His own. “God’s answer to everything that has ever terrorized us is a child…. His answer to the bullies swaggering through history is not to become an even bigger bully. His answer is Jesus” (Ray Ortlund Jr.).
As hard as it might seem, Jesus really is the answer to every problem you face in life. Do you feel encircled by darkness? Look to Jesus; He is God’s light given for you. Do you feel crushed by unruly, oppressive burdens? Look to Jesus; there is life and liberty in His presence. His presence makes every burden lighter, every problem easier, every hardship just a little bit softer.
Do you feel bewildered by riddles too big for you to get your arms around? Rest a while in the shade of Jesus. Your elder brother is on the throne. The government of all things– even the hardest of things– rests on His shoulders. Stop trying to carry weights too grievous for any mere human being. Give them to Jesus. He will carry them and you with them as well.
Do you feel unable to cope with the pressures of life? Look to Him, the mighty God; He will lend you His strength. Do you feel perplexed with worry and anxiety? Roll your cares upon Jesus; He does not mean you to bear them alone.
Remember, He is King. The golden threads of a kind omnipotence surround the very trials you most lament. He is unchangeably and omnipotently on your side. All of His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are arrayed for your advantage. Not one fiber of His being stands against you. At every turn, infinity is your ally. Look behind you: goodness and mercy dog your steps. Look up: you see the Sun of Righteousness rise with healing upon His wings. Look down: beneath your feet stands the Rock of Ages. Look on ahead: the Good Shepherd stands before you. He knows the way that you take. When He has tried you, He will bring you forth as gold (Job 23:10).
St. John of Damascus once observed, “God’s providence is the care He takes of all existing things.” This is certainly true, but Christian, whatever we face this week, we must believe that God’s providence takes special care of you, His child. God is no neglectful Father. He watches over you with a fierce but tender loyalty. He is the friend of your eternal happiness. As such, all things in heaven, on earth, and even the infernal legions of hell must serve your good.
Both your worst moments and your best, your sins and your triumphs, your greatest failures and your greatest successes are all gilded by the golden hands of God’s providence. The keys of providence swing on the belt of Christ, who loves you more than life itself and who thrust Himself into the fray to rescue your soul from eternal woe. Though the wrong seems oft so strong in your life, Christ is the ruler yet. As Matthew Henry once observed, “God’s providences often seem to contradict His purposes, even when they are serving them.” And it is in remembering such providence that most of life’s problems, if not entirely solved, certainly become much more easy to bear.