I am by nature a “fixer”.
Most men are……to one degree or another. Show a man a problem…….and he will respond with a solution……..usually in one or two sentences. For the most part, this works for me. For my wife…….. I’m not so sure.
The problem is that there are things that are broken that I cannot fix. Some times these are things that just cannot be fixed. Some times this is because of my limitations.
The friend with terminal cancer.
The committed secular humanist.
The life long drug abuser.
Global environmental deterioration.
The hatred that permeates our society.
The violence that we consume every night on our TV.
Fake information on the web and on the “news”.
I’m sure we could both add to this list.
One of the rules that I live by is this:
“When dealing with a problem……focus on the part of the problem that you can change (fix).”
But what if you….what if I…….cannot fix this one?
My next rule is this:
“Fix what you can…….pray about what you can’t fix…….don’t worry about the things you cannot change.
The Bible makes many promises. One of these is that God will make things right…….in the end. God will make things right……but on his terms and on his schedule. A great deal of the frustration that we experience arises when God doesn’t fix a problem on our terms and on our schedule. There are many people who have walked away from God because of this. There are many people who would rather trust science than wait on God.
An old fable:
There was a flood and a Christian prayed that God would save him. An army truck drove by announcing an evacuation, he stayed put and prayed…..and the water rose to his porch. A boat came by, he stayed put and prayed…….and the water rose to his roof. A helicopter came by, he stayed put and prayed…….and the water rose…….and he drowned. In paradise, he met Jesus. Jesus said, “Child, your faith during the flood was amazing!”
He said, “I prayed and prayed and you didn’t answer my prayer!”
Jesus said, “What are you talking about…….I sent a truck, a boat and a helicopter.”
God’s terms…….God’s schedule…….not ours.
Pray for the things that you cannot fix.
God will fix them……..but on his terms and on his timetable.
God is in charge……not you……not me.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Paul, NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Jeremiah, NIV
Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Luke, NIV
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
John, NIV