Don't DIY
by Andrea Merrill / Women’s Ministry Assistant
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Here’s something you may not know about me ... I’m fascinated with DIY and cooking shows. I’ll watch them while I’m hanging out on an elliptical at the gym and pretend that all of that know-how is somehow soaking into me through the TV. Most certainly, just from watching the shows, I’ll be able to go home afterwards and build my own new kitchen table, and then cook a gourmet meal (in 30 minutes or less) with no recipe card in sight! I’m amazed by creativity and the ability to make or fix something with nothing more than knowledge, energy and some good resources.
The real confession here is that I wish I could do that in my life too. I wish I could fix things and control them in order to create MY perfect vision of what my life should look like. As we all know life doesn’t usually go the way we expect, and we very often find ourselves in situations that were not in our perfect game plan, nor can we fix them.
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Here’s something you may not know about me ... I’m fascinated with DIY and cooking shows. I’ll watch them while I’m hanging out on an elliptical at the gym and pretend that all of that know-how is somehow soaking into me through the TV. Most certainly, just from watching the shows, I’ll be able to go home afterwards and build my own new kitchen table, and then cook a gourmet meal (in 30 minutes or less) with no recipe card in sight! I’m amazed by creativity and the ability to make or fix something with nothing more than knowledge, energy and some good resources.
The real confession here is that I wish I could do that in my life too. I wish I could fix things and control them in order to create MY perfect vision of what my life should look like. As we all know life doesn’t usually go the way we expect, and we very often find ourselves in situations that were not in our perfect game plan, nor can we fix them.
That’s why Isaiah 41:10 has brought me a lot of comfort this past year. Every time I read this verse God reminds me that it’s not up to me to fix things, it’s just up to me to trust Him. It doesn’t help me to fear what I can’t control, or to try to handle it all in my own strength. I can’t possibly have enough know-how or energy to finish the job, but thankfully I know that this incredibly faithful and limitless God we serve can and will.
He is my support when I can’t handle the weight of the day.
He is my peace when the future is uncertain.
He reminds me of who He is to keep me from being discouraged and hopeless.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t wrestle with these emotions still, and thankfully God is gracious when I do. Typically, it’s then, at just the right moment, that He reminds me of this verse and reveals a little piece of what He is creating in my life, and it’s pretty beautiful.