I apparently don’t see the obvious. How many times do I have to repeat this lesson before I get it?

I woke up at 3:55 this morning with the realization I was too awake to hope for sleeping longer. The prospect God had something to say and chose 4 am to get my attention came to mind. Two issues have been burdening me for which I had no resolution. So, I presented God with this question. “How do you want me to look at these problems?” The answer was immediate. “That’s it; I don’t want you to look at these problems. I want you to focus on Me.” Duh, I know this answer, but why do I forget so often? Why do I keep carrying a heavy weight in my mind and heart God never intended me to manage? I’ve written on this subject, preached it, and taught how we suffer needlessly over our dilemmas.

My daughter has a dog that needs caring for during the day, so her long work hours and his old age prohibits his staying alone too long. I have become the designated attendant. When I have to run an errand, a neighbor takes him until I return. This caring friend sometimes cooks breakfast for the Salvation Army. I came when he had just started the process of chopping the many onions to prepare his breakfast casserole. He has to cut ten green peppers, ten large onions, and already his eyes were burning. “Stop,” I said, “I’ll be right back.” I ran to get my food processor. What typically took three hours amounted to only a few minutes when receiving the use of the processor offered him.

Jesus has every means in His storehouse for resolving our impossible circumstances. There’s good news! Many of the tools in His storehouse are not for me to solve my problem, but for Him to use for working out my dilemma. The implements He gives me are trust, patience, wisdom, and the courage to hold on through adversity.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)