The Quote
“Solutions are the right answer to problems.”
— Godwin Delali Adadzie
Context and Inspiration
This reflection addresses a simple truth that many people miss in practice: problems call for solutions, not just analysis, complaints, or blame. The observation seems almost self-evident—of course solutions answer problems—but observe how people actually respond to difficulties and you’ll see something different. Many spend enormous energy describing problems, assigning blame, expressing frustration, or explaining why the problem is so terrible, while investing little energy in actually solving it. Others get stuck analyzing the problem endlessly without moving toward resolution. Some become so comfortable with their problems that they resist solutions. The quote cuts through all of this: if you have a problem, what you need is a solution. Not sympathy, not blame assignment, not endless discussion—a solution. This shifts focus from the problem itself to what resolves it, from passive suffering to active problem-solving, from complaint to action. Understanding this changes how you approach difficulties in every area of life.
The Problem-Focus Trap
Many people become trapped focusing on problems rather than solutions:
Endless Description: They describe the problem in detail repeatedly. They tell everyone how bad it is. They analyze every aspect of what’s wrong.
But describing the problem doesn’t fix it. After the tenth detailed explanation, you still have the same problem.
Blame Assignment: They focus on whose fault the problem is. Who caused it? Who should have prevented it? Who’s responsible?
Blame might be relevant for justice or accountability, but it doesn’t solve the problem. Even if you correctly identify who’s at fault, the problem remains until someone actually solves it.
Complaining: They express frustration, anger, or despair about the problem. They talk about how unfair it is, how hard it makes their life, how much they hate it.
Complaining releases emotional pressure temporarily but produces no solutions. You can complain for years while the problem persists.
Paralysis by Analysis: They study the problem exhaustively. They research it. They understand it completely. They know every detail.
Understanding problems is valuable, but at some point you must move from analysis to action. Some people analyze forever and never solve.
Victim Identity: They build their identity around having the problem. It becomes part of who they are. They introduce themselves through their problems.
When your identity is tied to problems, you unconsciously resist solutions because solving the problem means losing part of yourself.
Biblical Perspective on Problems and Solutions
Scripture consistently calls people toward solutions, not just problem awareness:
Nehemiah Faces a Problem (Nehemiah 1-2): Jerusalem’s wall was broken. Nehemiah could have just lamented this. Instead, he mourned, prayed, then asked the king for resources to rebuild. He moved from problem to solution.
Joseph Interprets Dreams (Genesis 41): Pharaoh’s dream revealed a coming problem—seven years of famine. Joseph didn’t just warn of the problem. He proposed a solution: store grain during the seven good years to survive the seven bad years.
God values solution-oriented thinking.
Jesus Encounters Needs: When Jesus encountered problems—hunger, sickness, demon possession, death—He provided solutions. He fed people, healed them, cast out demons, raised the dead.
He didn’t just acknowledge the problems or sympathize with suffering. He solved them.
The Early Church Solves Problems (Acts 6:1-7): A complaint arose about unequal food distribution to widows. The apostles didn’t ignore it or just sympathize. They created a solution: appoint seven men to manage distribution fairly.
Problem → Solution → Resolution.
Paul’s Practical Teaching: Paul’s letters address problems in churches but always move toward solutions. Read Corinthians—Paul identifies problems and provides solutions: divisions (solution: unity in Christ), sexual immorality (solution: accountability and discipline), disorder in worship (solution: structured guidelines).
What Makes Something a Solution
Not everything presented as a solution actually is one. Real solutions have characteristics:
Solutions Actually Resolve the Problem: A real solution eliminates or significantly reduces the problem. If what you’re doing doesn’t change the situation, it’s not a solution.
Solutions Are Actionable: You can implement a solution. If it’s impossible to do, it’s not a solution—it’s wishful thinking.
Solutions Address Root Causes: Band-aids on symptoms aren’t solutions. Real solutions address what’s actually causing the problem.
Solutions Are Sustainable: A solution that works once but can’t be maintained isn’t a complete solution. Real solutions can continue.
Solutions Consider Resources: Solutions must be realistic given available time, money, and capacity. Proposals requiring resources you don’t have aren’t solutions.
Solutions Produce Results: The test of a solution is results. Does it work? If not, it’s not a solution regardless of how good it sounds.
Moving from Problems to Solutions
How do you shift from problem-focus to solution-focus?
Limit Problem Discussion: Give yourself a time limit for describing or discussing the problem. After fifteen minutes, move to solutions.
The problem doesn’t need endless examination. At some point, “we understand the problem” and it’s time for “what do we do about it?”
Ask Solution-Oriented Questions:
- “What can we do about this?”
- “What’s within our control?”
- “What has worked for others facing this?”
- “What’s the smallest step we could take right now?”
- “What would partially solve this if we can’t completely solve it?”
These questions direct thinking toward action.
Brainstorm Without Judging: Generate possible solutions without immediately criticizing each one. Often the best solution emerges from building on an initially imperfect idea.
Start with What You Can Control: You can’t always control the whole problem, but you can usually control something. Start there.
Take Imperfect Action: A imperfect solution implemented is better than a perfect solution only discussed. Do something, learn, adjust.
Focus on Next Steps: Don’t try to solve everything at once. What’s the next single step? Take it.
Learn from Others: How have others solved similar problems? Don’t reinvent solutions that already exist.
Biblical Examples of Solution-Oriented Thinking
Wise Woman of Abel (2 Samuel 20:14-22): When Joab’s army besieged her city because of a rebel hiding there, the wise woman didn’t just complain about the siege. She negotiated. She identified the problem person, delivered him to Joab, and saved her city.
Solution-focused thinking saved lives.
Abigail Prevents Disaster (1 Samuel 25:2-35): Her foolish husband Nabal insulted David. David was coming to kill everyone. Abigail didn’t just wring her hands about the problem. She took food to David, apologized for her husband, and persuaded David not to take revenge.
She saw the problem and immediately moved to solution.
Esther Faces Genocide (Esther 4-7): Her people faced extermination. She didn’t just mourn (though she mourned). She developed a solution: approach the king, expose Haman’s plot, and request justice.
She risked her life to implement the solution, but she focused on solving the problem.
The Bleeding Woman (Luke 8:43-48): She had a medical problem for twelve years and spent all her money on doctors. She didn’t give up. When she heard about Jesus, she pushed through the crowd to touch Him.
She pursued the solution persistently despite obstacles.
Friends Lower Paralyzed Man (Mark 2:1-12): Their friend was paralyzed. They wanted Jesus to heal him but couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd. They didn’t give up. They cut a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down.
When the obvious path doesn’t work, solution-oriented people find another path.
Common Barriers to Solutions
What keeps people from moving to solutions?
Fear of Failure: If you never try solutions, you never fail. But you also never succeed. Fear of failure keeps people stuck in problems.
Learned Helplessness: After trying and failing repeatedly, some people stop trying. They believe nothing will work. This mindset prevents them from trying solutions that might work.
Secondary Gain: Sometimes problems provide benefits—attention, sympathy, excuses for not doing harder things. Solving the problem means losing those benefits.
Lack of Skills: Some people don’t know how to solve problems. They’ve never learned systematic problem-solving approaches.
Emotional Investment: After living with a problem for years, your identity can become tied to it. Solving it means losing a familiar part of yourself.
Perfectionism: If you demand perfect solutions, you reject good-enough solutions and remain stuck with the problem.
Resource Limitations: Real barriers exist. Sometimes you lack money, time, knowledge, or help needed for solutions.
But even here, asking “what can I do with what I have?” often reveals partial solutions.
Pride: Accepting certain solutions requires humility—admitting you were wrong, accepting help, following advice you initially rejected.
Pride keeps people stuck in problems that could be solved.
The Cost of Unsolved Problems
Why is focusing on solutions so important? Because unsolved problems cost dearly:
Problems Compound: Ignored problems usually get worse. Debt grows. Health deteriorates. Relationships decay. Small problems become big ones.
Problems Drain Energy: Living with ongoing problems exhausts you emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically.
Problems Limit Opportunities: While you’re stuck managing problems, opportunities pass you by.
Problems Affect Others: Your unsolved problems often impact family, friends, coworkers. Children suffer from parents’ unsolved problems.
Problems Create Bitterness: Long-term problems without solutions breed bitterness, resentment, and cynicism.
Problems Define You: If you live with problems long enough without solving them, they become your identity.
Proverbs 13:12 says: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Unsolved problems defer hope indefinitely.
When Solutions Aren’t Immediate
Not all problems have quick solutions. What then?
Manage While Solving: Some problems take time to fully solve. Manage symptoms while working toward resolution.
Partial Solutions Count: You might not be able to completely solve a problem immediately, but partial progress matters.
If you can’t eliminate debt, you can stop adding to it. If you can’t fix the relationship completely, you can stop making it worse.
Process Solutions: Some solutions are processes, not single actions. Recovery from addiction, healing from trauma, rebuilding trust—these take time.
The solution is starting and continuing the process, not expecting instant completion.
Accept What Can’t Change: Serenity Prayer wisdom applies: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
Some situations can’t be solved—they must be accepted. But many more can be changed than people think.
Find Peace in Difficulty: For problems without earthly solutions, spiritual solutions matter. Paul couldn’t remove his thorn in the flesh, but God’s grace was sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Sometimes the solution is supernatural peace in ongoing difficulty.
Creating a Solution-Oriented Culture
In families, churches, workplaces, communities—culture matters:
Reward Problem-Solving: Notice and praise people who solve problems rather than just complain about them.
Model Solution-Focus: When you face problems, visibly move toward solutions. Show the pattern you want others to follow.
Ask the Right Questions: When people bring problems, ask “What do you think we should do?” This trains solution-oriented thinking.
Don’t Reward Complaining: If complaining gets attention but solving gets ignored, people will complain. Reverse this.
Provide Resources: Sometimes people want to solve problems but lack resources, knowledge, or authority. Provide what you can.
Celebrate Solutions: When problems get solved, acknowledge it. This reinforces the value of solution-focus.
Teach Problem-Solving: Help people develop systematic approaches to solving problems. This is a teachable skill.
Biblical Wisdom for Problem-Solving
Seek Counsel (Proverbs 15:22): “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Others often see solutions you miss.
Pray (James 1:5): “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God provides wisdom for solutions.
Act in Faith (Hebrews 11:1): “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Sometimes you implement solutions before seeing the outcome.
Persist (Galatians 6:9): “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Some solutions require persistence.
Trust God’s Timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1): “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Sometimes the right solution at the wrong time fails. Timing matters.
Practical Problem-Solving Framework
Here’s a simple framework:
- Define the Problem Clearly: What exactly is wrong? Be specific.
- Identify the Root Cause: What’s actually causing this? Solve causes, not just symptoms.
- Generate Possible Solutions: Brainstorm multiple options without judging yet.
- Evaluate Solutions: Which are realistic? Which address root causes? Which fit your resources?
- Choose One: Pick the best option available. Don’t wait for perfect.
- Implement: Take action. Do something.
- Evaluate Results: Is it working? What needs adjustment?
- Adjust or Continue: If it’s working, continue. If not, try something else.
This simple framework beats endless problem discussion.
Reflection Questions
- What problems in your life are you describing endlessly without solving?
- Where are you stuck in complaint rather than action?
- What solutions exist that you’re resisting because you don’t like them?
- What problem could you partially solve even if you can’t completely solve it?
- Are you teaching your children to be problem-focused or solution-focused?
- What’s one small step you could take today toward solving a problem?
Related Quotes
- “When you find the solution, it always works, regardless of whether you like it or not, regardless of whether you believe it or not.”
- “Something no matter how small is better than nothing.”
- “Everything is expensive. You just pay for it now or later.”
Want to become a better problem-solver? Explore my books on faith and practical wisdom, discover more quotes and reflections, or read more articles on taking effective action.
