As a teacher and a parent one of the things I've learned over time is the importance of teaching children how to solve problems. Instead of jumping in and giving them a solution or telling them what to do, it is far better to help them analyze the steps to solving it themselves. It starts when they are little and cleaning their room seems overwhelming to them. Helping them see that picking up the dirty laundry, then the books, then the toys, then making the bed are all manageable tasks in themselves. That impossible load of projects in high school or that research paper in college submits to the same process with the addition of budgeting time for each task and sticking to it.
Lately there have been a few problems that have cropped up in my own life that at first glance threaten to overwhelm me. I could see the "desired outcome" in each case but fell sadly short when looking at my own ability to achieve it. In some of the situations there really isn't anything I can DO to solve the problem but even praying for a solution seemed to require more faith than I possess. It occurred to me this morning that I need to back up and do the same thing I've preached to the kids for so long - one step at a time.
I don't have the wisdom to deal with some of the problems of life or the things my kids struggle with. I wish I could be the mom who always has the right answer or the woman who knows exactly how to deal with the renter who is out of work and can't pay the rent. But I can pray for the words to encourage today. I can pray for the wisdom to deal with that next phone call or that next situation. It occurred to me as I was mulling this over that that is exactly what Jesus taught us when He taught us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread." He didn't say to pray for the ability to provide for our needs for the rest of our lives - He wants us to live in daily dependence on the Father's provision. He also said "Don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will have it's own share of problems." As we live this moment in faith and dependence on Him, He will tunnel the way through the problem. He doesn't even need me to figure out where that tunnel is leading!
My faith may not be big enough to move a mountain, but it is big enough to pray for that next spade-full of dirt.
1 comment:
I enjoyed this post as it is something God has been teaching me over the past couple of years, starting with my pregnancy. That was when I started waking up every morning and praying, "God, give me the grace I need for today."
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