Overcoming a Life Consumed by Problems

We all face seasons when life feels small, confined by our problems. You wake up thinking about them, carry them throughout the day, and lie down at night with their weight pressing on your heart. Troubles seem to surround you sin, strained relationships, unmet goals, and neglected responsibilities.

This shrinking of life is familiar, even to seasoned believers. But there is hope. Jesus himself offers a remedy that is simple yet profound: to lift our eyes beyond the size of our problems to the greatness of God.

When Life Feels Overwhelming

Perhaps you’re there now, stuck in a cycle of worry, doubt, and weariness. You pray for solutions, pleading with God for help. This response is natural and encouraged in Scripture. Jesus taught us to ask for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from sin (Matthew 6:11–13). These are legitimate needs, and God invites us to bring them before him.

But when our prayers center solely on these needs, our focus narrows. Life begins to revolve around our troubles, and they dominate our thoughts and emotions. Even as we seek God’s help, our world shrinks down to the size of our problems.

A Bigger Perspective

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray not only for our needs but for something much greater:

• “Hallowed be your name.”

• “Your kingdom come.”

• “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

These first three petitions call us to look beyond ourselves to the supremacy of God’s name, the advance of his kingdom, and the fulfillment of his will. They remind us that we are part of a grand, eternal purpose.

As Pastor John Piper observed after a personal season of struggle, “God made you to be a part of something spectacular and magnificent.” When we allow our lives to shrink down around our problems, we lose sight of this greater reality. But by focusing on God’s greatness, we find a divine equilibrium a stabilizing force that reorients our hearts and minds.

The Ballast of God’s Supremacy

Think of life as a small boat on a stormy sea. Without proper ballast, the boat is vulnerable to every wave and gust of wind. The ballast weight placed deep in the hull stabilizes the boat, keeping it upright and steady.

Similarly, when we anchor our lives in God’s greatness, we gain stability amidst life’s storms. Problems may still rage, but they no longer define us. We are grounded in the knowledge that we serve a sovereign God whose purposes are far greater than our immediate circumstances.

As Piper reflected during his time away from ministry, “The purpose of the universe is for the hallowing of God’s name.” This truth is the ultimate foundation for our lives. Everything God’s kingdom, his will, our daily needs, forgiveness, and deliverance serves this one great purpose.

The Danger of a Shrinking Life

When we lose sight of God’s supremacy, our problems take center stage. We wake up consumed by them and go to bed restless. This focus not only diminishes our joy but also blinds us to the bigger picture of what God is doing in and through us.

Jesus offers a better way. While it may feel counterintuitive, focusing on God’s glory hallowing his name lifts us out of the narrow confines of our struggles.

• To hallow God’s name is to reverence and treasure him above all else.

• To seek his kingdom is to prioritize his reign and purposes in our lives.

• To pursue his will is to align our desires with his perfect plan.

Living with Both Feet on the Ground

Jesus doesn’t dismiss our problems or the reality of daily life. He knows we need bread, forgiveness, and deliverance. But he also calls us to lift our eyes higher.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we find a balance between the practical and the eternal. With one foot planted firmly on the ground, we bring our needs before God. With the other foot, we step into the grandeur of his kingdom and purposes.

• Bring your needs to God. He cares about your struggles, no matter how small or overwhelming they feel.

• Don’t let your life shrink to the size of your problems. Instead, let your heart expand with the greatness of God’s purposes.

A New Strategy

When life feels overwhelming, remember that you serve a God who is both tender and transcendent. He invites you to cry out for help and also to lift your eyes to his glory.

Here’s how to embrace this dual approach:

• Start with God’s greatness. Begin your prayers by focusing on his name, kingdom, and will. Let this perspective shape the way you see your problems.

• Present your needs. Trust your Father to provide, forgive, and protect. He is attentive to every detail of your life.

• Revisit the big picture. End your prayers by reaffirming your commitment to his glory. Ask him to help you hallow his name, even in the midst of difficulties.

A Prayer for Divine Perspective

Here’s a simple prayer to guide you:

Father, I bring my needs to you. You know my struggles, my fears, and my failures. I trust you to provide for me, forgive me, and protect me. But more than anything, I ask that your name be hallowed in my life. Help me to treasure you above all else, to seek your kingdom, and to pursue your will. Lift my heart and mind to see your greatness, even as I navigate the challenges of daily life. Amen.

Feet on the Ground, Eyes on God

Life’s problems are real, and God doesn’t ask us to ignore them. But he does invite us to something greater: a life centered on his glory and purposes. As you navigate the waves of life, keep your feet on the ground and your eyes fixed on the God who holds all things together.

When your problems feel overwhelming, remember this: God made you for something magnificent. Anchor your life in his greatness, and you’ll find stability, joy, and peace that surpasses understanding.

Share this with someone who may feel overwhelmed today, and consider subscribing to our newsletter for more insights to help lift your eyes above life’s challenges.