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I have never been great with tools - you know, the wrench, hammer, and stuff. I may attempt to fix something, but usually end up asking the husband to do it. (That ensures it will be done RIGHT.) But even though I am not handy with wrenches and screwdrivers, I like to use my tool belt full of life tools to help fix people and situations.
But some things are not meant to be fixed. Some things cannot be fixed. Then what?
I realized this in a major way the first time my mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't make it go away. I couldn't minimize her pain or sickness during her chemotherapy. I couldn't get out my tool belt and develop a plan of action to improve our situation. I was helpless.
Enter God. He can do anything. He can and does heal. He can and does take away pain and sickness. Realizing my helplessness and smallness enabled me to focus on His power and greatness.
Faith is born and nurtured when our fix-it mentality fails. When we come to the end of our rope, our God is there waiting to hold us and to do His thing in a big way.
Paul, too, was a fix-it person. As godly as he was, he still tried in his flesh to do things on his own.
We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. (2 Co 1:8–9, NLT)Not being able to fix things increases our faith in the One who is Able.
And by the way, He raises the dead. What can He not do in your life?
So,when we are faced with affliction and difficulty, we need to:
- Realize our helplessness and inability to "fix" the person or situation.
- Release the situation or person to God who can do the impossible.
- Rely on God to comfort us and guide us.
- Remember that He can raise the dead!
But there's one more thing: what if it is something we can "fix?"
Maturing faith still relies on God. Maturing faith realizes that without God we are truly nothing and can do nothing. There are times God asks us to bring our natural to meet His Super (quoting Steven Furtick) and then there are other times He asks us to drop our "fix-it" for pure faith.
What are you going through right now that you are trying to "fix" and need to faithfully release to God? In what ways is He teaching you that He is enough - He doesn't need you... He desires your faith and relationship with you? Would love to hear from you!
Have faith in God, He is on His throne!
Kelli
Linking with Jen at Finding Heaven and Seedlings In Stone and Playdates at the Wellspring
