The Best Fixing

Hopeless.  Helpless. Wanting to fix. Desiring change. These feelings are swirling around me these past few weeks. In my close circle of friends there are so many crises and struggles that I sense I can do nothing about. Fixing a marriage that is not only on the rocks but is beaten by the waves is not in my power. Stopping the ravages of cancer that are destroying two of my friends is not in my skill set. Providing the money to meet significant financial needs is not in my bank account.  Relieving the stress of a huge workload that appears to only grow larger by the moment is not in my ability. And then when the eight character text, pls pray, comes across my iPhone screen my heart is gripped and my stomach is in knots because I feel so helpless because prayer is all I can do.

So with reluctance and not much faith, I cry out to my God. I don’t know what to say…I can’t give Him a plan to fix it...so I pray in the Spirit. I beg for relief. I intercede and slowly God does a work on my heart. It is true I can’t fix, stop, provide or relieve but He can.

He is the Restorer of broken walls.

He is the Healer of our bodies.

He is the Provision for all our needs.

He is the Way Maker when there seems no way.

So my helplessness is really a gift to my friends and to myself. In my helplessness, I turn to the only One who can make a difference. I lean into the One who is made strong in my weaknesses. I cry out to the One whose ears are inclined to me.

And then the peace comes, the Prince of Peace, and I realize the best “fixing” I can do for my friends is praying.

What about you? Are you turning to Him? Are you leaning in to Him? Are you crying out? May we not think that prayer is the last resort but know that it is the first and only resort.