Fix or Faith?
I’m a fixer.
When something isn’t quite right, I just can’t let it go. I’ve got to make it right. A peace keeper (not the same as a peace maker), I’ll go out of my way to make sure no anxiety exists…and often, I choose to cross the line.
I cross the line from faith to fix, get in God’s way and make a mess.
I can be a lot like Sarai.
God gave the promise that He would bring a son to Sarai and Abram. As the head of his family, God chose to speak the promise to Abram and he was waiting in faith for God to do it.
But Sarai just couldn’t handle God’s timing. Waiting for God to work it out was stressful and as it mounted, she just had to fix it.
At the brink of her anxiety, Sarai crosses the line in Genesis 16:2 and models for us what happens when as women we bypass God’s plan for our man to lead and take up our plan.
A Mess.
Take a minute to read this short story in Genesis 16: 1 – 16.
Here’s how Sarai’s plan went down:
1. Sarai leads
2. Abram follows
3. Sarai blames
4. Abram abdicates authority
A mess.
Their story is not so unlike mine. When I feel something is not going as planned or at the pace I want it to, I get involved; I try to lead instead of support. Nothing good ever comes of it.
Maybe you’re like me, and you too have a tendency to demonstrate a lack of trust in your man and your God by trying to fix things. Let’s take it from Sarai; that plan only leads to sin and a huge mess. When we experience tension today, let’s show both of our men that we trust their wisdom and judgement and let God do what he does best: work out all things together for our good.
PS…our girls are watching.
This article just calmed my restless heart! Thanks.
I am also a fixer. It just tears me up to see other people in my family unhappy or miserable. Often instead of praying for them or reminding them of God’s love, concern, and interest in their needs, I try to make things “better”. Sometimes it feels like an addiction. It often goes like this: I receive a phone call from a family member relating some unhappiness or trial and I feel my brain immideately go onto a mode of problem solving, of “how can make this better for them” or “how can I help them be happy again”. You know what? It becomes a burden! What is even worse is that I go around unhappy till I can fix it. But some things can only be made into good by God. Well actually, thru God, all things can be made for good. Sometimes it takes a while, or it is not the solution we sought. But if we turn to him, he will not ignore our call for help. And while I know this in my heart to be true, I am still so often a “fixer” and I get in the way.
Erin, I believe that us “fixers” will find a lot more peace as we let go and let God!
i am so like you in this. thank you for an excellent reminder to trust God & stay out of His way ♥
So needed this! I find myself many times growing anxious that things aren’t happening fast enough for me. So, like many others, I try to “help” (hurry) things along and wind up with additional obstacles. Had I just LISTENED I know things would have fairer out much better and much sooner….with a lot less heartburn too! Yet, everytime I do the same thing. Thanks for this most. It reminds me to just take a deep breath and relax…..God’s taking care of it all anyway.
He sure is, Kim!
Lord help me! Yes I struggle in this area as well but am slowly letting God help me! 🙂 I LOVE how you added that, “P.S. Our girls are watching.” So true and thanks for the reminder!