Nobody lives a perfect life. We will all have problems. We live in a fallen world where we’ll face trials, struggle with sin, and encounter many difficulties. 

Some problems, however, may seem “small” or “insignificant”. Compared to others, they seem unimportant or unworthy of God’s time. We think, “This problem is only small and will sort it out if it just gets a little time.”

Have you ever been facing a seemingly insignificant trial, whether it be anxiety about talking to someone on the phone, “unnecessary” loneliness, or the thought of having to figure out finances? 

When we compare our smaller problems to disease, depression, homelessness, and loss, they can seem insignificant and unimportant. 

So, what should we do when we’re faced with these “small problems”?

What makes a problem small? 

An issue that you may be going through may seem little to someone else. For example, you may need to talk to a friend and challenge them about something wrong in your relationship- for some people, confronting a friend is easy but, for you, it’s extremely difficult. So, when we look at it from the opinion of others, it will always vary. 

You may also compare your issues to other ones in your life or even to those in other people’s lives and say, “This really isn’t a problem,” or you could simply go on how you feel about the issue. 

It’s easy for me to get super stressed out when I somehow ruin a dinner I’m making. I know that, later, I’ll just laugh at myself and move on with life but at that moment it’s stressful for me. When I consider my situation, I try to shrug it off but the stress continues to eat at me until I’m in tears. 

The last way to look at it is from the perspective of the Bible…

What does the Bible say? 

We are told multiple times in the Scripture to rely on God and not worry, but surely that’s about big things in life like anxieties, depression, big life decisions, and your relationships, right? 

While we should certainly pray about larger issues, we are also told that we should not exclusively trust God for the big things and not worry about the little things. 

We are told in Phillippians, 

“Be [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

Phillippians 4:6-7 

We also see in the Psalms, 

“I saught the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”

Psalm 34:4 

Then later on in the same chapter that, 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all”

Psalm 34:19

(Emphasises all my own.)

Notice the word, “nothing”. We are told to be anxious about NOTHING, but to give it to God and He will give you peace. “Nothing” means all your seemingly “insignificant” and “silly” issues of life, as well as the heart-wrenching, soul-draining, faith-testing ones. 

Likewise, we see that, when we seek the Lord, He delivers us from ALL our fears and afflictions; not just the big ones that have us terrified of the future, but also the small ones of how you’re going to tackle an annoying situation with your sibling. 

From this, we are able to learn that God sees all our issues as a whole, and not as varying levels of importance or urgency. He cares about all your issues- big or small. 

Don’t bottle up your emotions

When we have these emotions of stress, anxiety, or frustration about these “smaller” issues, it’s unhealthy to bottle them up and ignore them. 

When we do this, we are neglecting the fact that there is some sort of issue in our lives and we give it an opportunity to get the better of us. 

Think of it like a dirty bin. Maybe, at first, there’s a vague smell that isn’t massively offensive but the longer you leave it the worse it will get. Eventually, you can barely go into that room because of it. If you had only taken the rubbish out when it had just begun to smell, you wouldn’t be in this situation. 

The Lord will hear you

We may be tempted to wonder, “Does God even hear me? My prayers are for such small things.” 

We are instructed, 

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”

Jeremiah 33:3

And as David said, 

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.”

2 Samuel 22:7

The Lord hears us when we cry out to him, whether in the depths of our troubles, or the simple inconveniences of life. God is love (1 John 4:8). He cares for us and, just as nothing is too hard for God, nothing is too easy. He cares for our EVERY need. 

Consider this: God knows the exact number of hairs on your head. He knows every little detail about you. He knows all your flaws and strengths. He knows your darkest sins and your greatest achievements. He knows every little detail of your perfectly mapped out and brilliantly orchestrated life. 

Yes, God hears your prayers. 

No such thing as a small issue

Rose, I ask you: why does it matter if your problem is big or small? If they are all the same in God’s eyes then why should we measure them for ourselves? Take them all to the Lord. Take the fights with your siblings, take the uncertainty of your future, take the money you need to buy that one book for school, take the stress of those driving lessons, take your loneliness, take your depression, take your troublesome workday, take your exclusion, take your ponderings… 

Bring it ALL to God and He will provide for you because He loves you and cares for you. 

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, 
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh what peace we often forfeit, 
Oh what needless pain we bear, 
All because we do not carry, 
Everything to God in prayer! 

Have we trials and temptations? 
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, 
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, 
Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Are we weak and heavy-laden, 
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge, 
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer, 
In His arms He’ll strength and shield thee, 
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Beth is a sixteen-year-old Historical Fiction writer from the United Kingdom. She is the second oldest of ten children and is a pastor’s kid. She loves her quiet countryside life and couldn’t dream of living anywhere else.  She recognizes that she is not alone in her battles against the Devil and that there are many other young women out there who simply need a kind voice reassuring them of God’s love and power.  It’s her goal to be a reassuring voice saying, “Keep going- I’m here for you but, most importantly, God is here for you.”