Sit with It

I am a fixer.

There I said it. Sitting still when I see a problem I could fix is one of the hardest things I do. My current profession requires that I be a fixer. In this arena of my life, my God given talent is well used and well appreciated. I am often commended for my “big picture” visionary skills. These skills have been useful in my ability to find problems, to diagnosis problems and to eventually fix the problems. That is all well and good in the work world. Even there sitting with the problem can frustrate me because I know I can figure it out.

In relationships or with people, fixing may not be so welcomed. This talent God has given me in the professional realm can be a curse in the relational realm. I still possess the talent. It can still be used for good, but there are times I am finding that I cannot rush in and fix things. As I learned from a dear friend this past week end there are times I just need to “sit with it”. I’m not good with “sitting” with anything. I want the problem solved, and I’m just as thrilled to work on it all night if I have to for it to be solved. I will let it whirl in my head until the wee hours of the morning. Running it through different scenarios until I find the one that fits just right and BAM I have it. I have the perfect answer for the imperfect problem.

I have been chewing on this new phrase “sit with it”. Lifting it up to God; how do I do this thing called “sit with it” you wired me God to fix things, you gave me this big picture kind of brain and gifted me to be a visionary. Show me how to sit with it.

• Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

• Zechariah 2:13
Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

• Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

• Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

In His word He tells us to be still, to sit with whatever calamity you are in, and He will fight for me.

He will be exalted as the one who fixes things ( not me).

He has roused Himself (my favorite visual) from His dwelling so to take care of the matter, I can picture Him shifting His weight, hearing the fire blazing wheels of His chariot throne pop and spark as He stands, with His right hand outstretched ready to speak into existence the true fix, the only fix that will be perfect.

Be still and wait for Him. He is never slow to respond, He is responding I need only to wait for His move, and to see if He asks me to join Him.

And it’s ok if I end up feeling empty, that I didn’t get to fix anything. As I sit with it, I need only to lean into Him with the wait. To lie at His feet, pour out my heart; even tell Him how I see it. He may just chuckle, but He’s big enough to hear my version as to how I would fix it, and still proceed with His own.

I may be able to resolve problems at the work place, but when it comes to relational problems, sometimes He asks me to wait, sit with it, to be still and know that He is God, not me, never me.