Do you have problems in your life?  If you are human, you will immediately know the answer to this question. It almost seems like to be human is to have problems! It is universal. If you are a believer, you know that this was promised to us by Jesus: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Even though trouble and problems are universal, we tend to look for ways to gloss over our problems or minimize them. I am pretty good at this myself, preferring to focus on what is going WELL in my life so as not to sink into depression!  However, it is precisely because I know Jesus that I have learned that minimizing my struggles is the last thing He wants me to do, no matter how minor they may seem to me. Many of us who are more privileged may complain about a difficulty we are facing, and quickly follow up our complaint with something to dismiss the challenge. We might say, “I’ll be okay.” Or “This is so minor compared to what others are going through,” or the famous, “This is a first- world problem.” While I do appreciate the heart in this comment is to gain a wider perspective about our troubles and remember how privileged we really are compared to much of the world, I think the quickness to make these comments can have another, more detrimental, effect on our relationship with God.

The truth is, even if we KNOW it is a first world problem and not nearly as bad as—for example–living in a war-torn country where we don’t know how to protect and provide for ourselves and our children, this comment short circuits any work God might want to do in our lives through it.

God frequently refers to us in Scripture as sheep and to Himself as our Shepherd. If we think more deeply about that analogy, that means that no matter WHO we are and what we are going through, He longs to care for us the way a Shepherd cares for His sheep.  That means he tends to our every need and cares about ALL that we are going through. Reflection on Psalm 23 is a good exercise to see all the ways God longs to provide for each of us intimately. That means that if we are troubled by something, He wants to know about it. He wants us to bring it to Him for His solutions and help. If it bothers us, He has a solution. We don’t need to be embarrassed that it doesn’t “qualify” as being worthy of His attention. We might judge our own problems as trivial in His eyes before we even talk to Him about it. We might say to a friend–or to ourselves– “Oh, this is nothing; just a first-world problem,” hoping that by saying those words, we won’t worry about it anymore. But chances are, we will. Unless we bring it to Jesus.

The truth is that all our problems and troubles are opportunities. Opportunities for God to reveal Himself to us in some way. Opportunities to learn something new about Him or learn something more deeply about Him that will truly change our perspective. Opportunities to receive a good gift from our Shepherd. I guess what I’m saying is, don’t assume you know how God sees your trouble until you ask Him about it.  Frequently, I expect to hear one thing from God and come away with a very different answer after praying about it and seeking Him in His word.

 I have found Philippians 4: 4-7 to be very helpful as a guide in bringing ALL my troubles to Him: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Here is how that looks to me in practice, step by step:

1.    “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” I start my prayer expressing gratitude that I can bring this situation to Him, the God of the Universe.  And I remind myself in prayer that this same God who created the world and overcame death is NEAR, whether I feel it or not.  I acknowledge that truth.

2.    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation…”I tell God about the situation that is causing me anxiety. Even though He already knows about it, he longs to hear it from my mouth because I am His child and He loves to listen to me (and you!).

3.    “By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,” I acknowledge my inability to solve the situation myself. I let Him know that I believe HE (and He only) holds the power to bring any change to the situation (or to change my perspective on the situation).

4.    “present your requests to God.” This is the part where I get as specific as I can about what I am asking for. The more specific the request, the more I will notice when He answers! However, this is also the time when I listen and allow Him to change the request to better match His priorities, if needed. Jesus might remind me that I am to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) This can be a key time of aligning my heart to God’s heart so when I ask, I am asking for something that is aligned to what He wants.

5.    “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Often, I do experience almost immediate peace after this exercise of prayer. But sometimes, if the issue is closer to my heart, it might take several sessions of praying about something before I experience His peace. Either way, I trust that He is working and more involved in the situation than may be evident on the surface. That knowledge can have a very settling effect.

Our Good Shepherd longs to hear about your troubles. When you minimize them, you miss an opportunity to receive gifts from Him. Even if it is a “first-world problem,” your Shepherd  has the power to turn your problem into an opportunity to see Him more. And that is the best gift of all.