Trusting the Tools

Do you have a favorite tool you use? If you were to ask my youngest, I’m pretty sure he would say tape. He uses tape for all his creations. I will buy tape for myself, and when I go to use it, it's gone. I think we can all figure out where that tape went. I really should start hiding it better. Haha.

 Tools are very important to the tasks that we are trying to complete. However, having the right tool doesn’t do us any good if we don’t know how to use it. 

A chef knows which flavors complement each other and when to add them. Bakers know which ingredients to use to make their goods nice and fluffy. A cake decorator knows what tips will create the design they are trying to achieve. A mechanic knows when to install a new alternator or battery. A carpenter knows whether to use a nail or a screw. An artist knows which brushes and colors will create the full picture. These people know their tools because they've been trained in their craft.

I love having a rolling pin for pie crust and pizza dough.

In Isaiah 28:24-29, we are told about the methods a farmer uses to care for his crops. The thing is, he didn’t just know how to take care of them, God instructed him and taught him over time the right way to care for his farm.

God, the creator of ALL things, teaches how to use tools to help us in our lives. He knows his craft like the back of his hand. We are His creation! Sometimes in our faith, we might question the methods that God is using in our life and that is often because we don’t understand what He is doing. We can be left feeling that He is doing nothing or worse, doing it wrong.

We think we need something different, something better. We think we know the best way. The problem is, we don’t know what the future holds. We don’t have all the information, but God does. 

Sometimes my kids don’t understand that there is a certain order in doing certain chores. They question why some things have to be done before others. Kids don’t initially understand that they have to sweep the floor before it's mopped. If you’ve ever mopped a dirty floor, you know it doesn’t clean the floor but rather makes wet, clumped streaks of dirt throughout the house. The method is all wrong for this type of cleaning. Like our kids, we might think that our way is faster or easier. However, faster and easier doesn't always give us the best results.

God knows what tools we need to get us to where we are going. We don’t need to question the methods God uses to shape us or advance His kingdom.. We just need to know that He knows what the right tool is, when to use it, and how to use it. Wolf said, “ God has perfect timing and wisdom. He knows how to work in our lives.” God needs us to trust, listen, and be obedient.

Take a moment and think about what is going on in your life. What tools could God be giving you, right now, in this season?

There are always tools we can take with us from one season to help us with another. Thankfully, God knows the exact ones we will need and provides them. Let's trust in His wisdom today.

“All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.” Isaiah 28:29