God is the answer & solution
I was stunned by the reply. I’d encountered an issue in which I had no knowledge or ability to correct on my own, and my request for help had been denied. The only assistance I received was a vague set of instructions I could follow to attempt to correct the problem on my own.
But my gut told me not to go through with it.
It wasn’t a life-altering situation, mind you, but it still mattered greatly to me. And so after much fretting, I reached out to the person I most trusted to give me sound advice. Not only is she a wealth of knowledge and an expert, but she’s never steered me wrong in this area, and I was confident she would have a helpful solution… even if she was hundreds of miles away.
“I’m so glad you didn’t follow that advice. That would’ve caused more damage. I’ll actually be in town soon, and I’ll be more than happy to help you.”
I’ve heard it said God helps those who help themselves. I don’t know who coined this phrase, as it is far from Biblical. And yet the pride in our hearts leads us into this very pitfall. Surely, we can take matters into our own hands a solve the problem. If we just try harder. If we push more. Scheme more. Reroute and take a different course.
Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:1-5
I’ve done far more damage by taking matters into my own hands than I ever did when I took them to the Lord. When I’ve sought His faithful guidance, sound wisdom, and perfect expertise, He has never led me astray.
I’ve never once dug myself out of a hole, but God has gracious lifted me from many pits. And for all the breaking I’ve done, He has been gracious to repair. Never once has He turned me away. And He’s never required me to come up with my own solutions.
Has he required me to wait on Him as He works things out on my behalf? Absolutely. But you know what? He always comes through with an exceedingly better way.
Don’t try to fix it on your own, my friend. I know it’s tempting, it’s humbling, and it’s hard to wait. But God, rich in mercy, will be attentive to your cries for help. He not only has the answers, He is the solution.
