You’ve been there, haven’t you—that situation you desperately wanted to fix but your hands were tied?

Most of us are doers. We fix stuff.

My hubby is the best fixer on the earth. In our more than fifty years of marriage, he has only hired a repairman for house projects two times—once for a plumbing problem that was more than he wanted to tackle (although he could have done it) and the other…I forget. Anyway, you understand, if it’s broken, he can fix it. His sharp hearing can identify an automotive malfunction immediately and usually he can fix it himself. As I said…he’s the best.

I’m sort of like that concerning home matters. I’m a relationship fixer. One of my unexpected blessings from the Lord is a mentoring ministry. It started years ago when I was pretty much confined to home rearing our two children and caring for our parents as they declined in health. The Lord sent to my own door dozens of young women seeking marriage and parenting advice. It was my great honor and joy to share Scripture-based principles the Lord had taught me, and he used those truths to fix a lot of situations.

Fixing is what we do. The hardest place in life is the situation we desperately want to fix…but our hands are tied.

Fixing is what we do. The hardest place in life is the situation we desperately want to fix…but our hands are tied. Click To Tweet

When I was in such a place, a note on my desk reminded me, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8). I can count on that.

Everything God allows to touch my life is for a purpose: It’s designed…an opportunity for me to display his glory and declare his praise. Knowing that, I can keep my joy, no matter the circumstance.

When my “doing” path is blocked, the best (only) thing I can do is pray. Oh, wait. There is one more thing. I can reflect God’s character, putting on his love, patience, kindness, and compassion, and seeking his wisdom above all. That’s some heavy-duty doing!

When my “doing” path is blocked, the best (only) thing I can do is pray. Oh, wait. There is one more thing. I can reflect God’s character, putting on his love, patience, kindness, and compassion, and seeking his wisdom above all.… Click To Tweet

No, I still can’t fix the situation. But I can appeal to the One who can and represent him well.

Jesus told his disciples, “…I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and  nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).

Although mountains haven’t posed a problem for me, mountain-sized obstacles have—dilemmas that have no human solution, situations in which my hands are tied.

I’ve spent time and energy digging my way through those mountains without making much headway.

By the way, didn’t I see you over there near the cliffs, trying to dig your way through a habit that enslaves you…guilt that’s eating you alive…depression that’s consuming you…temptation that’s luring you away from fellowship with God?

Friend, that job’s too big for you. Lay down your pick and shovel, and call the Mountain Mover. Here’s the code: f-a-i-t-h.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23).

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).

The Psalmist said, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).

The Mountain-Maker is the Mountain-Mover. Call him then stand back “and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes” (1 Samuel 12:16).

Have you been in a situation in which your hands were tied but God worked in a mighty way? Please tell me about it. And I’d be grateful if you’d share this with your friends.

© Dianne Barker 2020

(Adapted from Cabbages and Kings—Reflections on Living Abundantly in Christ)