Your Attitude

6 Jan

“The problem is not the problem.  The problem is your attitude about the problem.”  ~ Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Life and problems go hand in hand.  Some of our problems are tiny, insignificant things.  Other problems are huge and almost insurmountable ones.  Some problems are nothing more than a blip while others cause a great amount of distress.  Jack Sparrow reminds us, though, that the problem is not in the problem itself but in our attitude regarding the problem.  If we decide that the problem is going to affect us deeply and negatively, it will.  If we decide, on the other hand, that they problem is not going to get us down, we will be able to get through it.

If you want to consider problems, consider Jesus Christ.  He had a problem.  He knew that others wanted Him dead.  He knew that it was a matter of time before they succeeded.  Yet, He did not let that stop Him from doing the Father’s will.  St. Paul wrote about it so beautifully to the early Church in Phillipi (Phil 2:5-11)
“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”

Are your problems as big as Jesus’ were?  I think not.  Oh, we might feel that way from time to time but, if we are honest about it, we have to admit that they are not.  Ask Jesus to help you bear your cross and ask Him to mitigate your problems.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask God to give you the attitude of Christ.