One day a storm raged through a small community, flooding the river and destroying their only bridge to the outside world. Next morning the people gathered at the wrecked bridge and began to worry about their plight. ‘The river is impassable; how will we get to the markets now?’ cried one. ‘Without the bridge we’re completely cut off,’ said another. ‘It’s impossible to fix this bridge!’ a third added bluntly. ‘If we can’t get across the river, we will all perish,’ prophesized the fourth.
Then as the people started panicking they became aware of their children playing on the other side of the river. The parents shouted to their children, asking how they had crossed when the only bridge had been destroyed. The children pointed down river. Because the parents had so focused on the problem of the broken bridge they failed to notice a great tree had fallen across the river during the storm, making a better overpass than they’d had before.
A problem in our life only becomes ‘a problem’ when that’s all we see. Consequently, by focusing solely on the problem, we often don’t see the solution. When this happens, our crisis usually overwhelms us. As problems arise, we must focus on the solution – God. He is not caught by surprise. He knows our situation and in fact may have allowed it so we will change directions. God does not close a door without opening a window. When adversity strikes, we should endeavor to be more childlike – exploring all possibilities and regard our circumstances as new opportunities just waiting to be discovered.
But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13b.