APPLYING BIBLE PRINCIPLES TO SOLVE LIFE PROBLEMS
The following is one of many principles the Bible provides to solve our problems: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [you seek] will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). A very troubled young man shares how applying this and other Bibles principles helped him solved life problems.
Henry Cloud, author of The Secret Things of God, said he was a sophomore in college facing troubling problems when he turned to the Bible and God for help. He was experiencing the pains of a broken relationship, a failed career dream and living with haunting depression every day. He was desperate for some kind of help. For some unexplainable reason, Henry said his attention was drawn to the Bible on his bookshelf, which he had not read since being in college. When he randomly opens the Bible, he said his eye fell on a verse of scripture that seem to leap off the page. The verse is cited above (Matt 6:33). He said when he looked at the following verse, it read:
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,
For tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matt 6:34)
Henry said he had feared becoming a religious weirdo, but because of his deep distress he prayed to God. He said God began to helped him apply principles of the scriptures to help solve his life’s problems. This was when he started to learn about what he called the secret things of God.
FINDING CHRIST BY SEEKING GOD
Henry says those who find the Lord do so “when they seek the Lord with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). However, he tells us everyone needs are different and their stories of finding God are different. He said his story of finding the Lord Jesus Christ began “when I asked him to help me and he sent a fraternity brother who called me out of the blue and led me to a group,” that evidently had to do with believing in Jesus as your Savior. But a young lady named Helene shared a story of how she had a miraculous personal encounter with the Lord.
DISCOVERING YOUR CAREER BY FAITH IN GOD
His new friends in Christ, “told me to ask God about my future and to trust him with it” (p32). He asked and God began to lead him away from accounting to psychology as a major. Afterward he was accepted into a reputable grad school to major psychology. He was lined up for a secure job when he graduated. Then he got a call from a program he had previously applied to. This program taught theology as part of its training. Somewhat reluctantly he met with a rep of that program. He felt persuaded by God to accept the rep’s invitation. Henry said he enrolled in the program by faith. (p33).
He eventually achieved a doctorate degree in psychology, with training in theology as part of the program. He grew in knowledge of God by praying and studying the Bible. God equipped him to help people with their personal and spiritual problems.
HELPING OTHERS BY USING BIBLE PRINCIPLES
While counseling people about many of their life needs, Dr. Henry Cloud was concerned about helping them to seek the kingdom of God first. He is aware that God wants people to address the needs of their eternal soul: For the Bible asks, “What good is it for someone to gain the world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36).
In counseling people with different needs, like co-dependencies for instance, which may involve the anger or immaturity of others, Dr. Cloud said he has often used the principle seen in Proverbs 19:19–“Do not rescue an angry [immature/irresponsible] man, or you will have to do it again tomorrow.”
Yet when people show a readiness to deal with their spiritual needs, the doctor has shown he is ready and prepared. For instance, In cases where he was counseling people about their various needs on a radio show, THE NEW LIFE, he said a young man and a young woman called him specifically about problems related to God:
CASE 1
THE YOUNG MAN: Well you talk about [God] like you know he is there…and like you know who he is…I mean, there are so many religions, so many faiths, and the Bible…How can you know for he is there? How do you know which God is the real God?
HENRY: “Do you want to know? I mean really want to know?”
THE YOUNG MAN: Why sure…very much so. I would love to know that God is there and who he is.
HENRY. Okay, here is what you do. Forget all of your wondering, all of you doubts. Wherever you are, right now, I just want you to please show you…who he is and what his name is.
THE YOUNG MAN. He later called us back and told us that he had come into a real relationship with God, all beginning with that phone call. (pp16-17).
CASE 2
HELENE: Well, you said on the radio that you like to talk to non-Christian people about God, right?
HENRY: Yes, does that mean you? What would you like to talk about?
HELENE: Do you remember…when you told that guy… that if he wanted to find if God was there and who he was to just ask him? Well, I did she said. Have a problem. I had jus returned from the doctor’s office where I had gotten a really bad diagnosis…cancer….So I did what you said. I got down on my knees and just asked. I said if there is anybody out there…help me. Whoever you are, if there is a God, please help me.
HENRY: So what happened?
HELENE: When I did that, and this is going to sound crazy…Jesus came to me…And I knew it was Jesus. There is no doubt about it.
Dr. Henry said he was stunned, moved, and also overwhelmed at the genuineness with which she told her story. But as a psychologist, he knew she not psychotic or delusional or manic. So he asked her, “what is your problem?
The young lady went on to say, “I asked for God… and Jesus showed up…But I’m Jewish.”
Mr. Cloud said they sat together, and talked for a long time about the Hebrew scriptures that she had learned earlier in life. (pp19-22).
They talked about scriptures showing God’s promised Messianic Savior would be “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). He would be God’s sacrificial “Lamb” slain to atone for and cover people’s sins (Isaiah 53:5-7; John 1:29; Hebrews 9:11-15). Jewish disciples’ eyewitness-accounts of Jesus performing unparalleled miracles, and fulfilling all scriptures concerning the Messiah—his deeds, his crucifixion, his resurrection–atest that he is God’s divine promised Savior of the world (Luke 44-48).
Dr. Henry Cloud says God’s biggest Bible “secret,” or principle, is no secret at all. God tells us, “If you seek me with all your heart you will find me.” In finding him, he says he will give you the things you need and the desires of your heart (Matthew 6:33: Psalm 37:4). And he assures you that you will have eternal life in heaven with God (John 3:16;14:2-3).
