Stop Fixing Everything

Hi, my name is Allison and...I’m a fixer.

When I see a problem or a situation or someone that needs help, I try to do everything possible to ‘fix’ it. Whether it’s time, finances, a listening ear, etc – I will do whatever I can to correct and bring right what’s gone wrong.

Helping and fixing situations isn’t a bad thing by any means, but when it becomes what you live for, strive for, and work towards in every situation and season, it might be a problem…

When I fix things, it makes me feel like I have power in that moment – like I have control over something in my life for once.  If I fix I situation, that means that others, myself included, can just move past the pain or heartache or despair that the situation is causing.

As you may have guessed based on me writing this, I’ve recently been challenged to stop trying to fix everything.

Instead of saying, 

“Ok, here is all the information and details and THIS is exactly what we are going to do to turn it all around – to change that frown and tears into a carefree smile!” 

I’m trying to learn to say, 

“Ok, that’s hard and really painful. Let’s just take a seat in this pain and rest in it for a bit – see what happens.”

Yea….it sounded crazy to me as well.

{Scary and terrifying were other words that came to mind.}

This past month or so, God’s certainly given me opportunities to try this. And let me tell you, it HURTS. It takes every fiber in my being (and a whole lot of help from the Spirit) to stop planning in my head how I can get out, and instead just sit and marinate in it. But you know what?

I’m feeling His love,

hearing His voice,

and seeking His face

more than ever.

He is cutting through all the noise of my constant planning and urge to ‘fix’ and quieting my soul with His presence and His peace.  He is showing me over and over in His Word that He does the most amazing work in the dark, hard, painful moments.

In the end, it’s not my job to ‘fix’ anything – whether it’s others or myself.

He is so sweetly reminding me that He has already ‘fixed’ the only real painful, broken situation in my life – and yours.

When Jesus hung on that cross, when He gave His perfect life as a sacrifice for you and me, He ‘fixed’ our sin problem. He forever ‘fixed’ the pain and loss. He ‘fixed’ our hearts by giving us NEW hearts that are clean, and pure, and whole.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean we don’t ever experience pain and situations in our life (to be honest, I feel like they increase as a Christian). However, it means that they ultimately are already 'fixed'.

The painful moment you are trying to run from? It can’t control you. It won’t break you. It’s being used to make you STRONGER; to give you new life and a deeper relationship with your Father who loves you so stinking much – and promises to never leave your side, no matter the darkness, stench, pain, bad decisions, and anything else this life throws at you.

“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,

but you will restore me to life again

and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

You will restore me to even greater honour

And comfort me once again.”

Psalm 71:20-21 (NLT)

So the next time you’re in a painful situation and every 

fiber in your being wants to ‘fix’ it and find a solution, 

stop and think if this is an invitation from Him to 

grow your roots deeper and be made stronger in His love.