# Great Problems

By [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2) · 2025-08-22

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I was caught up in a vortex of a problem.

My chest and back muscles were tense.

My voice, heightened.

Patience was wearing thin, like a threadbare coat.

The feeling in my gut, really outside of my gut, was like I was wearing a tire around my waist, instead of a hula hoop.

How would I fix it? How could I make it all go away so I could feel the ever elusive tranquility, like floating on the ocean during a beautiful sunset?

I was caught up in my own world of problems. Nearly totally absorbed.

Then, I spoke with a friend.

“How are things going? Give me the update,” I said.

“Life sucks. I’ve been unemployed for a year and I can’t find a job.”

Seconds after he told me that, the car I was riding in (my friend was driving) was sideswiped by a reckless driver. (No one was hurt, fortunately).

God was sending me a message. Or even if he wasn’t, I chose to take it that way.

“Dude, yes, you have problems, but you have a really GOOD problem. It’s the kind of problem that only happens when you are fortunate.”

I’m studying the book of Job right now. We’re not done yet, but I wonder if it’s possible, just maybe, maybe, maybe, to get to a point where every problem is a good problem.

Because if you have a problem, it means you’re alive.

And that’s a good thing.

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*Originally published on [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/great-problems)*