Turning Problems into Opportunities

Do you ever run into roadblocks on your life journey? Do you ever get frustrated when things go wrong and your plans don’t work out as anticipated? God has a way of turning life’s problems into blessings. What seems like a detour can lead you straight to your destination.

Grace and Walter Lantz rented a rustic wooden cabin in the forest for their honeymoon. At the first dawn there, a woodpecker started its pounding on the roof. The newlyweds couldn’t sleep for the noise. But by the time they returned from their honeymoon, they were inspired to create a cartoon character, “Woody Woodpecker.” Walter drew the pictures. Gracie became Woody’s voice. Years later, at their 50th wedding anniversary, Grace remembered the problem of the noisy woodpecker and said, “It was the best thing that ever happened to us.”

Difficulties are opportunities to better things, they are stepping stones to greater experience. Perhaps someday you will be thankful for some temporary failure in a particular direction. When one door closes, another always opens, that is the way life is. Obstacles and failures are a normal part of life when you take risks in order to grow. Accept them and move on. See what new things God has in store for you.

DRILLING FOR OIL
In 1859, a New York chemist travelled to Pennsylvania, to watch the drilling for oil. He was Robert Chesebrough who watched as the oil drillers cursed a colourless oily residue that stuck to their drills. Though it was a problem that gummed up the works, the oil workers smeared this stuff on their cuts and burns. It helped to heal. Chesebrough took this oily residue back to New York. By 1870, he was manufacturing what he had developed from that oily problem. He called it Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.

A problem gives your life a jolt and knocks you off your accustomed track. The jolt, however, can send you spinning off in a new and better direction. In this way, a problem can become an opportunity.

CAPTAIN OF A SLAVE SHIP
A violent storm posed a problem for the captain of a slave ship. He was John Newton, born in London on July 24, 1725. He transported slaves from Africa to America. On March 10, 1748, a storm frightened him so badly that he called out to God for mercy. The problem of the storm started a storm in his heart. He remembered his childhood faith. Finally, that inner storm gave him the opportunity to give up the slave trade. At age 39, he became a priest of the Church of England. He wrote a hymn called “Amazing Grace” to tell how God’s love changed his life. 250 years later people are still singing it. That storm provided showers of blessing in his life and for many others in the years to come.

Failure hurts. Whether it’s something as big as losing a relationship or
a job because of your mistakes or simply saying something embarrassing
in a conversation, failure can easily leave you feeling hopeless.