When We Can’t Fix It On Our Own

“Can we fix it? Yes, we can!” My kids were watching an old DVD of ‘Bob the Builder’ this weekend and this catchy refrain of the theme song quickly lodged in my mind. “Time to get busy, such a lot to do. Building and fixing till it’s good as new.” It’s a fun cartoon about helping each other and pitching in to fix things. Bob and his tools can fix any problem they encounter with a little teamwork, creative thinking, and hard work.

I began to think how often I approach the issues in my life like Bob and his tools approach their tasks. I go into overdrive when I encounter a problem in my life. I try and try to fix it, to put all the pieces back together until life’s as good as new again. I gather all my resources, apply all my creative thinking, and work hard, harder than I’ve ever worked at something. Yet, unlike Bob the Builder, all too often I’m still not able to fix it. The real life problem is too big, too complicated, too out of my control to solve.

Can we fix it with enough hard work and determination?

When my dishwasher began making clicking noises, I knew I could fix it. I listened to the noises it made, analyzed when it made these clicking sounds, verified it wasn’t just dishes rattling inside, but something in the inner workings. I Googled this model of  dishwasher and found other reports of the same sound, even found videos on YouTube that sounded just like mine. I made a list of suggestions on how to fix it and gave the information to my husband (my fix-it skills only go so far…). We eventually had to call in an expert, but the problem was resolved with a replacement part.

Not all issues are so easily solved, however. Like one I’m facing now. Maybe like a difficult one you’re facing, too. The pieces are complicated, the root causes not easily determined, the courses of action too uncertain, the solutions seemingly beyond our grasp. It’s harder when the problems deal with people, not machines.

So, what do you do when you’re not able to fix it on your own?

What do you do when there’s nothing left to do but pray and trust God?

As hard as we try, we can’t fix everything. Certainly not on our own. Not without God’s help.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” ~Revelations 21:5

Some days, it’s hard to sit back and trust that God is at work in my life, fixing and making all things new. Perhaps it’s hard because I don’t always like His answers and His solutions. His ways don’t always line up with mine. It seems He’s not always focused on solving my problem, but rather on remaking and rebuilding my heart and soul.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” ~Exodus 14:14

Yet, God reminds me that He’s in this with me, fighting for me, fighting with me. I only need to be still and trust in Him.

I need to go to prayer before I go to Google.

I need to get on my knees before Him before I roll up my sleeves and start taking action.

I need to read His words in my Bible before I read one more report or write one more letter.

I need to open my hands and release it all into His far more capable hands.

I need to ask for {and accept} His guidance and direction before I take each next step.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer needs to be our first action, not our last resort.

“There’s nothing left to do but to pray and trust God.” How often is that our last resort? After we’ve tried everything we can to fix the problem on our own, only then do we fall back to prayer as a last-ditch hope for a miracle. Instead, God wants prayer to be our first move.

Trust God to lead you through whatever storm has beset you. He will guide and direct your path, comfort and strengthen your heart, and renew your hope. Hand over your worries, doubts, and fears to God and allow Him to rebuild your heart. Let Him fix you until you’re as good as new, until you’re healed from the inside out, until your heart and your faith can handle any outcome of the issue you’re facing.

Start today with a prayer. Ask God to come into whatever battle you’re fighting, whatever problem has become too large and complicated for you to solve on your own. Ask Him to fight for you. Ask Him to guide your path and show you the next steps. Ask Him to lead the charge and provide the solutions. Then, open your clenched fists and release your problem into His infinitely more capable hands. Let it go, take a deep breath, and begin to trust. We have a good and faithful God, who is making all things new.