Author John Maxwell wrote: ‘When you come face-to-face with a problem, how do you react? Do you ignore it and hope it will go away? Do you feel powerless to solve it? Have you had such bad experiences trying to solve problems in the past that you’ve just given up? Or do you tackle them willingly? The ability to solve problems effectively comes from experience facing and overcoming obstacles. Each time you solve another problem, you get a little better at the process. But if you never try, fail, and try again, you’ll never be good at it.’

And another author, George Matthew Adams, stated: ‘What you think means more than anything else in your life. More than what you earn, more than where you live, more than your social position, and more than what anyone else may think about you.’

Most of King David’s problems were enemies who wanted to defeat him. But he had confidence in God: ‘For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall’ (v.29 NKJV). To improve our problem-solving abilities, we should try these things:

1) Find the right strategy. Sometimes we have a hard time solving the problem because we don’t know how to tackle it. Try using the acronym T.E.A.C.H.: Time – take the time required to discover the real issue. Exposure – find out how others have solved similar problems. Assistance – don’t try to do it all alone, let others help you. Creativity – brainstorm numerous solutions. Hit it – execute the best solution.

2) Surround yourself with problem solvers. ‘Spend time with the wise and you will become wise’ (Proverbs 13:20 NCV).

What Now?

When we’re struggling with a problem, we might forget that others have solved similar ones before. So next time you’re faced with a tricky problem, try asking a friend, mentor, or someone else you trust, if they’ve ever dealt with something similar.