Not doing it alone

I am finally getting time to reorganize the shop and begin some builds of workbenches, carts, tool storage, etc. This means a little here and there needs to be gone through, plans made as to how to accomplish the builds, and then the actual work of cutting the wood and putting it together. The last part is a little tricky in a small space, with only two hands, and with limited 'old lady' strength! Do you have any idea how much 3/4 inch plywood weighs? Now make some shelving storage unit that needs to be mounted on the wall and try to figure out how to do it with one hand to hold it and one to drive the screws into the studs! I have had to get pretty ingenious in my 'holding' work to get these things into place! If I were honest here, I should have 'phoned a friend' for help, but I didn't realize how much help I'd need until I was way into it. That is often the case in life - we get into it and THEN realize just how much help we are going to need to get through it!

My Lord, you are good and merciful. You love all those who call to you for help. Psalm 86:5 ERV

The important thing is that we know who to call and when to call. The 'who' part is easier than the 'when' part, though. We understand we are supposed to call to God for his help, but do we always realize the 'when' of that call? Some of us get way into life and realize it is getting muddled up because we neither called for help, nor listened to his consultation on the matter when we finally did! Much worse are those of us who get into the muddled place and don't even call out for help - struggling in our own power and pride to 'overcome' (much like me when I get into these pickles in my workshop). This isn't going to go down well with some of us, but we need to hear it. We need to stop being so doggone 'independent' in how we live life and relish the help God desires so deeply to render in our lives.

Pride keeps us independent, but is it worth it? Humility helps us be mindful of when we will need help and it also helps us ask for it when we do! Maybe this is why God reminds us he opposes the prideful, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). We 'proud people' forget just how much grace we need in our lives - grace that oftentimes is right there waiting for us to simply admit we need it! There is no joy in having done it all ourselves and ending up with a 'crooked build', 'bruised and battered' parts, or 'inadequate builds', is there? Some of the greatest 'wins' in life come when we admit before we even stumble out there into life that we are not going to do it alone. Just sayin!