This writing is about how to 'heal' or to 'overcome' problems. What do you think is the process to overcome a problem? Is it a hit-and-miss process or this there rhyme and reason to the process? Is it God's will or 'Luck of the Draw'? I will attempt to write in a manner to convince both those who view problems as part of their religion experience and those who view problems as the 'Luck of the Draw' during the experience of life. I will use the term 'heal' referencing the religious and the term 'overcome' referencing the luck of the draw. As you will see, your chosen viewpoint makes little difference relative to the process of resolving problems (other than a religious person's feeling that God will help).
Many people wonder why they have problems in life; what is the purpose of problems; why do problems happen to otherwise good people. Religious people, who in their minds are attempting to live correctly (obey God's commandments) wonder why they have probles. People sometimes blame God or become angry with God or lose faith in God because of problems. Less or non-religious people do not target God for their problems, but often target some person or group as the cause of their problems and become angry or lose faith or cooperation with the person or group. Sometimes a person will become angry with a friend, a family member, a co-worker as if that person caused the problem. WHY we have problems is the subject of another writing.
It strikes me that there are several factors necessary to become 'healed' or to 'overcome' problems or obstacles in life. Mind you, I speak of every type of problem, not just religious ones. These comments apply to every problem, whether they are physical, financial, spiritual, familial, social, medical, psychological, or whatever other type you can consider. These thoughts apply in one degree or another to every problem.
Religious people will often wonder why God does not heal them from their problems. [Please, you non-religious folks hang with me for a moment.] They question why is it that God healed the blind, made people walk again, healed leprosy, returned people to faith and so on and yet He does not heal them. The religious person reasons (as does the non-religious person) that they live a good life, treat others well, follow the law, etc. Certainly God could command: "Be healed!" and it will be done. But, what would be accomplished by that?
I am religious and I opine that there are basically two methods in which people are 'healed' or 'overcome' problems. First, God can simply command it. But I believe He usually only does so when it suits His larger purpose. Second, there is a process by which a person must travel in order to be 'healed' or 'overcome.' God's involvement in the second method or process is supportive rather than controlling, or He may not be involved directly at all.
Before we get to the second method or manner in which people are healed, a few comments must be made about problems. Problems are the subject of another, longer discussion, but here I must make a few comments.
To be healed or to overcome requires faith. What is faith? Avoiding a long dissertation, let me just say that faith is the belief that a desired result can occur. I would not get into my car and drive to work if I did not have faith that I could arrive safely. A farmer would not plant a crop if s/he did not believe there will be a bounteous harvest as a result of planting. So we see that Faith is an action verb. Many think of Faith as a condition of mind, which it is. But primarily, Faith lead to action. No action, there is no faith. "Faith without works is dead", says the scripture.
So the second manner or method in which a person is 'healed' or is able to 'overcome' problems is to have faith which leads to action. Whether God is directing this second process or whether the person is making their own effort, either way the person MUST make the effort. It is unlikely God will do it for us. It does not serve God's purpose to solve the problem for us because we will not learn. Remember, a purpose of our existence is to learn. Even the non-religious person will agree that learning is an essential part of life.
How does the person bring to pass the action necessary? First, the person must have the belief (faith) s/he can overcome or be healed. Second, the person must learn what is necessary to overcome a problem; to be healed from a problem. Healing does not come without knowledge. If God chooses to 'heal' someone, He does so by use of the knowledge He has. A healing from God may appear a miracle to you or I, but the miracle is wrought by knowledge which God has. Miracles do not just appear out of nothing.
In like fashion, when a person makes the action necessary to 'heal' or 'overcome,' that person must do so based upon knowledge.
Where is this knowledge derived? Everywhere: Experience, books, experts, friends, people who have lived themself with the problem, God through answers to prayer, parents, co-workers, religious leaders. This is not to suggest that every word proceeding from these people is correct. It is only the place we can seek the knowledge requisite for us to solve our problems.
There is a major condition, requirement or potential drawback. Before a person can exercise faith which leads to action which leads to knowledge which leads to healing or overcoming, the person MUST ACCEPT that they have the problem which needs solution. If there is not recognition and acceptance of the problem in its true form, there can be no faith, action, or knowledge requisite to healing/overcoming. You cannot solve that about which you do not know. (Again, no knowledge, no solution.)
Back to the second manner of healing/overcoming. A person is somehow brought to the point of true recognition that a problem exists. The person then must exercise the faith or belief that if they do the correct things necessary so that the problem can be solved. The person begins action toward solution, which action is usually first the seeking of correct knowledge about the problem. Knowledge must include a true understanding of the components of the problem including the underlying motives, desires, urges, and incorrect beliefs and behaviors which cause and support the problem. The knowledge must also include the medical, physical, psychological, financial and social components of the problem. The person then continues with action designed to use the correct knowledge obtained to change the components. Obviously, there is an ongoing circular process of faith, action, knowledge, action, faith, and so on.
AND when all this has occurred and the problems is resolved, or at least managed correctly, what has happened??? The person HAS LEARNED about themself, about the world, about the exercise of faith, about self-confidence to overcome, about God's hand in assisting and supporting, about friends, about where and how to find knowledge for the next problem. In a phrase, the person has GROWN IN STATURE in their personal self. THAT IS THE REASON WE HAVE PROBLEMS.