The truth is that much of what we imagine to be true, according to the memories and wounds from past experiences, is never realized in our present experience, yet we experienced great stress worrying about it. Also true, is that we have confronted problems ill equipped to solve them, and the worst that we imagined concluded as spot on or even worse than what we had imagined. As it happens that we fail miserably in our attempts to solve problems, the likelihood increases that the fear of failure and rejection results in shying away from problem-solving and our problems get worse while we stew over them and resist trying to solve them. Problem solving can be extremely daunting and difficult so we need an plan of action to attempt to solve our problems.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. James 1:2-5a (NLT)
Prayer is the first step in effective and productive problem solving. Having discovered and learned tools for empowered recovery, it is time to develop an applicable recovery action plan to arrive at real solutions to real-life problems.
In this section, NLX participants will be challenged to:
- Identify a current problem/conflict
- Recall events and circumstances in play when the problem/conflict started
- Examine how you are affected by the problem/conflict
- Examine who else is affected by the problem/conflict
- Examine the first thing you did to try and solve the problem/conflict
- Examine other things you did to attempt to solve the problem/conflict
- Look back to other times when you had a similar problem/conflict
- Examine what you recall doing to attempt to solve the problem/conflict
- Examine how you and others were affected by that previous similar problem
- Consider how confident are you that you can resolve your current problem/conflict without a working action plan
- Develop an action plan with a minimum of three very specific steps
- Consider the prognosis for resolution of the problem/conflict without your action plan—best case scenario, worst-case scenario, most-likely scenario
- Evaluate a prognosis for successful resolution of the problem/conflict with your action plan—best case scenario, worst-case scenario, most-likely scenario
- Consider what it all looks like when your problem/conflict is solved having implemented your plan to solve your problem God’s way
- Examine your confidence level (0-100) that you will solve your problem/conflict working through your action plan
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NLT)
NLX 101 participants are encouraged to address another problem, following each of the 15 steps to develop an action plan for solving it. Each time they find themselves stuck in a problem in the future, they can develop an action plan to solve it utilizing the ABC strategy for your recovery in every area of their life to see what God will do.