I am a scaredy cat at heart. I don’t like to be frightened. I don’t like to put myself in situations where I can be scared. So you can imagine, I don’t like to watch movies that would pull me into that realm.

I have seen my share of horror/suspense/scary movies to last my lifetime. I’ve seen “Jaws” in the theater. Passed out at that one. I watched “House of Wax” in 3D in theaters. Super scary. I watched “The Claw” at a friend’s home…nightmares for weeks after that.

I babysat for a friend of a family friend. Our family friend drove me to the location. A mobile home park on the other side of town. I watched “Psycho.” First time, all by myself, in a strange place. After the movie I watched the news. There were murders taking place in a mobile home park in our town. Since I had no idea where I was, I knew I was going to be next. I’ve been scarred for life!

My children have known this fear I have. But they convinced me one evening to watch “Pirates of the Caribbean” with them. They promised when the scary parts came on they would tell me and I’d close my eyes. I saw a couple of those scary creatures in that movie and that was quite enough.

I don’t know what the draw to this type of movie is for some. I have such difficulty with it. I may not see good in this type of entertainment. However, on occasion, I might find a good quote to use. And today is one of those times.

Captain Jack Sparrow was a pirate in every sense of the word. But this quote showed how wise this gnarly character really was. “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.”

You see, we each face trouble. Trials. Tribulation. Call it what you want, they all equal the same thing. A difficulty we must go through. The difficulty isn’t the problem. Our attitude about the problem is the real issue.

Jesus had a few things to say about this idea.

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, He said these words. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 – NIV)

On another occasion, Jesus spoke words of encouragement to His disciples. He talked about worry in relation to food and clothing. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Luke 12:22 – NIV)

So what are we to do with our attitudes about our problems?

We saw one solution above in the John 14 passage. We are to trust God with our attitude.

Another solution is to run to Jesus and find rest in His arms. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 – NIV)

In the Luke passage, Jesus goes on to share what we are to be thinking on instead of worrying. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31 – NIV)

And here are a few other passages to consider with regard to our attitudes about problems.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 – NIV)

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1 Peter 1:6 – NIV)

When we get it right, what might we receive when we take our attitude out of the equation?

Romans 5:3-5 tells us, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.” Suffering develops our character. When our attitude about our suffering is pointed toward God we can also see the hope we have in Jesus.

We are also conquerors on the other side of trials. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39 – NIV)

We receive God’s peace when we give our worry to Him. “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 – NIV)

Encouragement and strength come to us as we take our attitude out of the equation. “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – NIV)

Our faith is matured. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 – NIV)

Others will see our faith in God and Jesus will receive the glory. “These (trials) have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7 – NIV)

While Captain Jack Sparrow was out and about searching for pirate’s gold, the real treasure for us as Christians is to lean more upon God when we encounter a problem. Trust in what He has planned for our lives. Offer our attitudes to Him so that our faith is proven to be genuine and mature.

I have taken scary movies out of my life. I never watch them. I close my eyes through most commercials in October. I keep those images out of my mind. It has worked for me.

But I still have other fears and worries that I need to take to the Lord. When I read these passages I am convicted to give Jesus all of my worries. My attitude needs to be realigned. As I draw closer to Jesus, my soul finds peace. I pray that you will do the same.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna