“The LORD hath utterly separated me from His people: . . . Behold, I am a dry tree.” Isaiah 56:3

Most people have some problem which spoils their happiness and makes them sad and worried. Their problems may be sickness, loss of a friend, lack of money, lack of necessities, loneliness, weakness, burden of sin, guilty conscience, or it could be their husband, or wife. Their problem could be an unpleasant duty; something that they do not enjoy doing. Whatever it is, it spoils their happiness. Many people suffer with their problems all through their lives, and carry them to their graves. This it is not necessary because to every problem there is a remedy, or solution. The good old Bible has all the answers; it has never let anyone down who has followed its counsel. There is a medicine for every difficulty but many refuse to take this medicine. Therefore they remain in their miserable condition. Many are seeking for a remedy, but from the wrong place, and therefore they never find it. There are people who continue in their unhappy existence, without doing anything about it. These kinds of people are those in the Laodicean condition. They say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” While the True Witness says, “that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17. They are not happy. They can pretend to be happy, but it is not genuine.

The Jewish people were satisfied in their misery. They claimed to be righteous and whole; that they had no needs or no wants. Therefore they had no need of a physician. Yet they were sick, spiritually dead, blind, and miserable.

Let us study a few of the problems that people have.

THE BURDEN OF SIN

Sin brings guilty feelings and remorse. If no remedy is applied, it will lead to hardening of heart, and to separation from God and the church. We find the remedy in  Isaiah 1:18–19. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

Forgiveness is freely offered, but we must confess our sins to God, and to him against whom we have sinned. If you have stolen from God in tithes and offerings, then return them to Him. Do not sell your happiness for a few dollars of gain. If you have stolen from the government of your country by not paying your taxes, then pay them because this also would take your happiness away. If you have spoken a lie, then confess it quickly—remember what happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they lied to the church? Who are the biggest liars? Are they not the ministers of the fallen churches, who offer salvation to the people, while teaching them to disobey God’s commandments, especially the Sabbath commandment, and also the sixth commandment? They encourage the young men to join the army, to kill the enemy, when Jesus said that we must love our enemies, and do good to them?

HOW TO OVERCOME SIN

Alone we cannot overcome sin; we need God’s help to overcome sin. He has promised to help us, but we must do our part. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Not from some unrighteousness, but from all. We must say, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

This means full surrender, complete and unconditional. This promise of all includes little petty sins also, which are often overlooked, and the sins of neglected duty—the sin which the servant who had one talent committed.

PROBLEM OF LONELINESS

For loneliness there is also a remedy given in the Bible. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24. A selfish person cannot be genuinely friendly. True friendliness requires sacrifice and unselfish attention. To meet a person for a light small-talk over a restaurant table is not a true friendship that would satisfy anyone. Solomon wrote that there is a friend that is closer than a brother; a friend that gave His life for you, and took your penalty upon Himself. Who is this friend? Is it not Jesus Christ our Saviour? Are there more friends like Him? Yes, the true children of God, in whom the image of God is restored, they also make a friend that satisfies, on whom we can count in the time of need. If we have lost our life partner, then our happiness still continues with these true friends. Jesus was often left alone by people, but He said, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”  John 16:32

A person who has opened his heart’s door for Jesus to enter in is never lonely. To feel the presence of God is happiness; also, missionary work is one of the best medicines for loneliness—when we visit people, study with them, comfort them, and pray with them.

PROBLEM OF ANXIETY

If someone has an anxious heart, surrounded by worry and care, there is a remedy for this also. “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18. Obeying the commandments of God results in a beautiful peace, so calm, and so restful. There is no other remedy for an anxious heart than what God has prescribed for us.

PROBLEM OF LACK

We may be lacking money, a job, car, necessities, or something else important. What has God given us, and what has He promised to give? “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.But God’s giving depends on the condition that we must fulfil. Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38

Let us not forget what the Lord spoke through the prophet Malachi, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:8–11

Also, Jesus said, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33

God knows that we need food, drink, clothes, shelter, and money, and He will provide all these, if we do our part. There is a bank in heaven where Jesus tells us to put our money. This bank in heaven pays the highest interest of any other bank. If you have an account in this bank, you can ask God in prayer for anything at any time, and He will provide all your needs.

PROBLEM WITH ENEMIES

The best medicine to get rid of enemies is to love them. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

This medicine very few are willing to take. The Syrian army was constantly harassing the people of Israel. Time and time again, they came to war against Israel. They were, at that time, the worst enemies of the nation of Israel. Then one day Elisha led the army of Syrian soldiers right into the camp of Israel, and the king of Israel saw now a golden opportunity to pay back his long time enemy, but what did Elisha ask him to do? “And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that

they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.” 2 Kings 6:21–23. By kindness the continuous war stopped.

The unchangeable law of God says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

The problems in our lives, the bitter harvest that we often reap, are the results of our own sowing. We may have sown seeds of selfishness, pride, coldness, or dishonesty and unkindness, and the terrible harvest that we reap as the result of it may cause us to complain and be afraid. We can, however, avoid this terrible harvest by sowing seeds of kindness, seeds of love, seeds of forgiveness, and friendliness.

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

Satan also offers us medicine for our problems. He offers parties, entertainment, alcohol, smoking, drugs, pleasure in sin, and self-indulgence; but instead of healing, he poisons the mind, body, and soul, until the sickness becomes incurable.

There is, however,  a place where we can go to and find a remedy for all our problems. “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Jeremiah 8:22

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3. “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13

SUFFERINGS THAT ARE BLESSINGS

God has promised to give us the Holy Spirit, which is the Comforter, and all our problems will be solved. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” Isaiah 45:22. Looking to Jesus we will be relieved from all our problems, and we will be filled with joy and happiness, similar to the joy and happiness that we will have when we are in heaven.

We may have trials of faith, even persecutions, but Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” John 16:33

“For unto you is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

Paul said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities in persecution, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 10:12. He took pleasure in persecutions.

God said, whom I love I rebuke and chasten. These are not problems, no. They are blessings to us, to perfect our characters for heaven.

“Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and highest honour. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honoured than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 479

We should be thankful for these sufferings, as they are not problems. They prove that God loves us and is helping us.

When all our problems are solved and we are filled with the peace and joy of heaven, then we have work to do. We are to help others overcome their problems also. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6–7

Wherever we look, all around us, we see people stooped down under burdens, plagued with problems for which they have found no healing. Go to them in the name of Jesus our Lord, and bring them joy and sunshine to their dark, joyless lives. Become a fountain of living water that will flow into eternal life. Then one day you will hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21 Amen.

Timo Martin