Despite our backgrounds, race, qualifications and nationalities, we all face different kinds of problems that may weaken our resolve, drain our energy and threaten the accomplishment of our goals.

However, regardless of the kind and magnitude of the problems that you may face from time to time, it is important to understand that where there is a problem, there is always a solution.

Right now, as you read this, you may be going through an overwhelming situation but I must tell you that you are in that situation because you are part of the chosen few who are designed to come up with a proven solution to your problem.

Based on my own experiences, observation, research and interaction with other people, I have come to understand that for every problem there is always a solution even in those situations that we may think we are doomed or have hit the end.

As such, it’s important to understand that whatever you may have considered to be the end of the road because of pain and desperation may quite often be a sign of new beginnings and thus you must not be easily shaken by tough situations which will never last forever.

All what is needed is for you to remain resilient, stay focused, strategize and then take informed action, with hope and faith being your cheerleaders even in the worst of circumstances.

I am going to share with you some pointers or guidelines that can help you to navigate through difficult circumstances without losing your sense of worthy and then later on, I will explain these steps in detail using examples.

Step 1: Recognize, realize or accept that there is a problem.

Step 2: Identify the problem or critically analyze its nature.

Step 3: Come up with possible solutions and evaluate them.

Step 4: Take action, take a leap of faith, and take a risk.

In order you to clearly understand these steps and guidelines, I will use the story of lepers in the Bible as our case study.

2 Kings 7vs.3-4 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

From the scripture above, we see four men who are engulfed in a do or die situation.

If we break down the above scripture, we can see the following critical points: a) they had leprosy, b) they were the outcasts, meaning they lived outside the city, c) there was famine in the city and d) the enemy had surrounded the city.

Now, let us use the four steps of problem solving mentioned earlier on to see how the leprous men faced their problems head-on so that we can also apply the same principle where necessary towards our own victory and success stories.

Step 1: Recognize, realize or accept that there is a problem. We see the four lepers recognizing and accepting that there was a problem. One of the most effective ways to recognize a problem is to introspect, that is to dig deep within yourself. You must never be in self-denial in life but you must learn to have tough conversations with yourself regarding what is going on in your life just like what the leprous men did. It is in these deep conversations with ourselves where we find real life and long lasting solutions.

Step 2: Identify the problem or critically analyze its nature. The lepers realized they had leprosy. They knew they were the outcasts and that there was famine in the city plus the enemy was surrounding the same city. Identifying a problem will help you come up with possible solutions.

Step 3: Come up with possible solutions and evaluate them. The four lepers had possible solutions to their situation. Most of the time the solutions we may come up with requires taking risks. In the case of these four lepers, their solutions were; a) to sit in their condition and die, b) to go back to the city where there was famine and die or c) to go to the camp of the enemy and possibly die. A solution with two possible outcomes is always worth considering.

Step 4: Take action, take a leap of faith, and take a risk. The biggest risk in life is the unwillingness to take any risk. Having a list of solutions, the four lepers made a decision and begun to take action as they walked towards the camp of the enemy even though there were some risks associated with their chosen option.

Remember they took a solution with two possible outcomes, a positive and a negative one, but they were always focusing on the positive outcome. As they begin to take a step of faith, God came through and saved them. What they did also brought great deliverance to the whole city.

Shelton Vengesai is a Motivational speaker, Personal Development Coach, Aviator and Entrepreneur based in Frisco, Texas, United States of America.

Follow him on Instagram: @captain_eagle_shelton

The wonderful tomorrow which I am living now makes me fail to recognize the challenges of today.” – Brian Kazungu

Life is very rewarding to the visionaries because they always have the privilege to preview the future while they are still living in the present. 

Those that have a vision of a better future and work towards achieving their goals always have the picture of how the future will look like.

In this life, most of the projects that people get involved in are very demanding and straining to start, manage and to complete.

However, it is the vision of the complete product or end result that makes people to work hard and forbear the present challenges.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before :14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. KJV

For example, when a person is saving some money for buying a house or a car, he or she forgoes a lot of other things that could have been bought by that money at that time.

This is because the imagination of living in that house or driving that car usually outweighs the desire to spend the money on something else today.

When this car or house is finally paid for, it will just make the occupation or driving more real even though the person was already enjoying these assets in the mind.

If you do not have a vision for the future, you are most likely to always make abrupt decisions that will affect you when tomorrow comes. 

The failure to see the future in advance steals away the urge to move ahead and to face life head-on.

Quite often, if you do not imagine the future, you are generally prone to stress over trivialities. 

A wonderful tomorrow is always possible but however it needs the planning, execution and discipline.

Do not just see the future today but do something about it today as well.

Lacking regard for tomorrow will make the future look and sound cruel since it will directly respond to the decisions that you make today. 

For this tomorrow to come loaded with the gifts, presents and rewards that it has been known to offer, you must surely start to see and act upon it today. 

Reflectionsa) Write down a prospect that you believe will change your life for good.b) What are you doing about it today?c) Present it before God for help and blessing

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. KJV

Brian Kazungu is a Christian, Media Practitioner, Author, Poet, Technology Enthusiast, Entrepreneur and an Opinion Leader.

Monday Motivation is adapted from his motivational and inspirational book titled Fresh Thinking(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1654359335).

For more of his writings and motivation, follow him on:

https://www.amazon.com/author/briankazungu

https://muckrack.com/brian-kazungu

@BKazungu-Twitter