Crises and trials that arise through life’s problems come to everyone. When unexpected troubles strike, we easily become confused and lose our peace. Even those who seem strong in daily life, or appear to have solid faith, often find that when the waves of life’s crises hit, the outer shell of faith they relied on is stripped away, revealing their true nature.

At times like this, Pastor Robert Schuller offered five suggestions for solving problems:

1. Remember that every problem arises because some need has not been met.
2. Remember that success is discovering that need and fulfilling it.
3. Consider that your success may actually come disguised as a problem.
4. Welcome your problem as guidance or a challenge.
5. Find the person or resource that can help you solve—or even use—your problem.

In other words, when problems and trials come, we must first seek peace through prayer in God, and then look at the problem through His perspective. When we do, the Holy Spirit intervenes—not only solving the issue far beyond what we could do ourselves, but also fulfilling God’s greater plan.

God uses problems to make us complete.

There is a pair of brothers I know who have always been admired for their closeness. The older brother excelled in everything, to the point that the younger brother often lived in his shadow. Even after coming to America, the older brother came to faith first, and the younger followed through his encouragement.

But for many years, although the older brother was faithful in church and spiritually mature, his family faced constant difficulties. For nearly ten years, nothing seemed to go well. Business would seem to prosper, then unexpected problems would arise. Meanwhile, the younger brother prospered in every way—his children entered top universities, his business flourished, his health was good. He no longer needed to rely on his older brother.

Watching this, the younger brother struggled with confusion. “Why would God allow so many hardships for someone as sincere and faithful as my brother?” he wondered. He himself often slept through sermons, yet everything in his life went smoothly. He began to question whether it was even necessary to be earnest in faith. I once counseled him, reminding him of a clear truth: to truly grow in Christ, we must pass through trials that come through various problems. Why is that?

There is a story about Michelangelo. One day he passed a shop selling marble and noticed a huge block of stone. Expecting it to be expensive, he asked the price. But the owner said it had been sitting there for years because no one wanted such a large piece—he could take it for free. Michelangelo brought it home, envisioned a masterpiece within it, and began chiseling. That block became the famous Pietà, Christ in the arms of Mary.

If that marble could speak, the pain of the chisel and hammer would have felt worse than death. Yet through that painful shaping, it became a work of art that inspires generations. What was once a useless, dusty stone became a living testimony to Christ’s suffering.

When everything in our lives seems to go well, we must examine ourselves. Outward comfort may be present, but our spiritual maturity may be weak or even asleep. When life is smooth, we must intentionally seek what God desires of us. We must ask, “Am I someone useful in the eyes of my Creator?” But if we find ourselves in crisis despite sincere faith, we should give thanks. That is the time when God is shaping us with His own hands.

“Pain is humanity’s greatest teacher, and in the breath of suffering the soul grows,” someone once said. A life untouched by hardship is like a bird still waiting inside its shell. Life must eventually break out, and the soul must spread its wings.

God’s way of shaping His children can also be seen in eagles. When eagles prepare their nest, they lay thorny branches and stones beneath soft feathers. When it is time for the young to leave, the parents remove the feathers. The young birds, pricked by thorns and pressed by stones, can no longer stay comfortably. The parent then carries them high and drops them, forcing them to fly. Through this harsh training, they become the strongest and most majestic of birds. God trains His beloved children in the same way, giving our souls wings strong enough to soar over His beautiful world.

One unforgettable event this year was Senator John Glenn’s return to space after 36 years. He first orbited Earth in 1962, and at age 77 became the oldest astronaut when he flew aboard the Discovery shuttle to study aging in zero gravity. His dramatic return to space began with an accident—he slipped in a bathroom and injured his head, forcing him to withdraw from a Senate race. Fearing disability, he underwent extensive medical tests at NASA, which later helped qualify him for the space mission. His work on the Senate Aging Committee inspired the idea of senior spaceflight, and he ultimately achieved it.

Looking down at Earth from space, Glenn exclaimed, “How amazing that some people can live without believing in such a great God.” His awe echoes deeply in my soul. His crisis became the very thing that made him a hero of his time.

Dear listeners, may we not miss the opportunities that come disguised as crises and trials. I, too, often feel discouraged or overwhelmed when life’s trials come. But looking back, I always find God’s hand at work—guiding, shaping, and blessing in ways I never expected. Our task is to walk forward with patience, allowing God to mature and refine us.

James 1:2–4 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

“Not lacking anything”—this reminds me of a bride beautifully prepared for her bridegroom. May you walk in victory through life’s crises and the testing of your faith this week.

— WanHee Yoon, 11/17/1998