Receiving the wrong coffee order, cracking your phone screen, chipping nail polish, tangled chargers, deciding which shoes you should wear to impress a potential boss—I'm sure many of you will understand why these situations are referred to as 'first world problems'.
To say that I haven't let these little frustrations get the better of me at times would be a lie. This popular phrase started as an internet meme and has become such a cultural norm that it now seems silly to ask for help for trivial matters.
It seems even more ridiculous to ask for God's help on these issues.
God answers prayer, big and small
It just never crossed my mind that God would be interested in hearing about my little daily complications, but in the past week God has reminded me that he wants to help me with all of my problems.
One night I was having trouble falling asleep, so instead of lying there becoming so anxious that I couldn't get to sleep I got up and talked to God, asking him to help me with this single need and a few minutes later I fell asleep.
Later that week at Bible study, we had some time to discuss ways that God had worked in our lives that week. One girl told us how she had ordered a new phone to be delivered to her house between 8 and 12 one day, but she had to leave the house at 9. As she needed the phone later that day to make calls, she prayed the phone might be delivered before she left the house that day, and it was.
In both these instances God listened to what seemed like our insignificant problems, and then answered them, making me realise God does care, and he wants us to trust our problems with him, no matter how big or small.
God is not 'too busy'
Often we unconsciously hold the misconception that God is too busy to care for these small issues. However, by not trusting God with our small, everyday anxieties we keep him from being the true leader of our life, we underestimate how big God really is. God is not limited in his power, nor is he bothered by our seemingly minute frustrations. He cares about us and every problem we face.
Part of having a relationship with anyone, and especially God, is good communication and sharing your burdens, even if they are seemingly fickle. Sometimes all we can ask for may be for grace in dealing with life's little frustrations, either way God is capable of dealing with all of our problems.
Further to this, having the perspective that 'first world problems' are useless to try and solve does not help third world problems. Perhaps this attitude helps us to be grateful for all we have but our problems are still problems that God wants to hear about and help with.
Our daily struggles show us that no matter how rich we may be or how much we have, we are still imperfect and there is always a need for God in our society.
Kelly Bingham is a University student with a love of animals amongst other things and is studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She lives on campus and loves to socialise and get with the other university students and the elders at her church near university and at home. In her free time she likes sewing, reading, running by the beach and taking photos for her own fashion blog.
Kelly Bingham's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/kelly-bingham.html