Every problem has a purpose. God even promised us problems when he said: “In this world, you shall have tribulation……” (John 16:33). Your response to challenges is what made you who you are now. Do a self-check of your life right now particularly places where there has been a progressive change in your life and you will notice one common denominator; a problem forced the change. Most great men of God that have operated in the Ministry of Healing have dealt with sickness during their journey of life.
If you do not know the purpose of a problem, you will not reach the place of provision. The children of Israel are a perfect case study on this. When they reached the red sea that was an obstacle to them, they complained: “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:11)? When an idol was made by Aaron it was through complaining: “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him” (Exodus 32:1). They were series of complaining by the children of Israel. This is a major reason that many wandered and died in the wilderness. They did not understand the purpose of a problem. If they did like Caleb and Joshua, they would have reached the Promised Land.
Problems bring you to the junction of decisions. Do I go left or do I go right? Do I complain about my low salary or do I make up mind to get another source of income? Do I accept the doctor’s verdict that I will die in 2 month’s time or do I accept that there is healing power in God’s word? When problems come to you as a believer, you are to stand up and slay the Goliath or command the mountain to move. That is what we ought to do.
When we reach the junction of decisions, we are tempted to take the easier way out. Most of the time, it will be the wrong decision. The righteous way most of the time is the harder way and that is why scriptures tell us that fruits are produced through patience (Luke 8:15). We are to take the mountains down. Not to go around the mountain. Without patience, the problem will make you give up. Patience is faith over a prolonged period of time in a given situation. You know you will come out on top. You know your victory is permanent while the problem is temporary.
While we are patient, we are bringing down the mountain. Problems push us into spiritual disciplines. It pushes us to pray and fast. It pushes us to sow seeds and make confessions. It pushes us to walk by faith and not by sight. When it was getting to the time that Jesus would be sacrificed on the cross, he prayed till his sweat was like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Do not run around the problem. Face it head-on with boldness. Your promotion is in that problem with your name on it.
Why did Jesus roll away the stone? Why did he not just appear outside the grave like he did in John 20:19? Why did he not just dig his way out or call out that he is alive so that somebody will come and roll away the stone? He rolled away the stone to tell us that we are to roll away every poverty, every disease, every depression, and every affliction that is an obstacle. We have resurrection power so there is no problem we cannot move away.