How to See Past the Problem

Pastor Ben Diaz
 

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NLT

Over and over in Scripture, God commands us to “fear not,” giving us this powerful reason not to fear: “for the LORD is with you!”

Pastor Ben explained that our fears are directly linked to what we choose to see. Are you seeing the situation alone, void of power, or WITH GOD and His supernatural power? How we perceive our circumstances can lead us to either fear and discouragement or faith and courage.

In Numbers 13, when the spies scouted out the Promised Land, we see two vastly different perspectives. Ten spies saw the giants and felt like grasshoppers in comparison. But Joshua and Caleb focused on God’s promise and saw the land’s goodness. They knew that with God by their side, those giants were no match for the Lord’s power and faithfulness.

Seeing our situation without God brings fear, hopelessness, and despair. But seeing our challenges with God involved changes everything! The enemy often tries to paint the most fearful picture possible, but now that we know his tactics, we can change our perspective and imagine a different outcome—one where God’s power is at work for us.

When we create a clear mental picture of God in our situation, it becomes an anchor to hold us in faith and hope for supernatural results. Pastor encouraged us to consider a challenging situation in our lives and invite God into it. Ask Him to replace your fearful image with a new picture of His presence and victory, and then steward that vision by continually thanking God for being with you.

Pastor shared how he personally applied this lesson after his accident, replacing the image of lifelong limitations with a vision of full restoration, running, and jumping again.