I can't fix it!

Have you ever had one of those days when however hard you try to fix a problem all the solutions just don’t seem to work?  I had one of those moments this week - with technology, or sermon files to be more precise.

I wouldn’t say I’m particularly ‘techie’ but I do have more than a basic knowledge, so you would think that an error message that appeared on our website when trying to upload the latest sermon to our website, would be no problem …you couldn’t be more wrong!!

I started with the basics - trying to reload it just in case the website was having a funny five minutes.  That  didn’t work, tried it again - didn’t work … after 5 attempts I figured it wasn’t that, so I tried to change the format of the file and that didn’t work either. I then googled the problem, it asked me to try some different options, but they didn’t work either.  The more I tried, the more stressed I got, nothing was working!!

Most people, when faced with an issue that won’t resolve, may perhaps step away to do something else.     Unfortunately for me a switch flicked in my head and what started as a simple task suddenly became a fight to the death, ‘I must prevail, I won’t be defeated! I need to conquer this problem whatever the cost!

The result - lot’s of grumpy noises and frustration, followed by one last ditch attempt to render the audio file through another editing program and… It worked!!! I felt like I wanted to run around the room shouting ‘whose the man!!’ - before I realised I was in the church office and Sara was next door. So I settled for a simple ‘Get in’ with a fist pump.

Why am I telling you this?  Perhaps it’s because I need you to know that you’re not the only ones who struggle with stupid stuff! Sometimes I solve it, other times I don’t and I am left frustrated.  Let’s be honest, if the   sermon (as good as it was) didn’t go on the website, it wouldn’t be the end of the world - life would still go on.  So why is it we let stupid little things get the better of us, things like issues with our wi-fi, procrastination, household clutter or remembering passwords? It’s just not worth all the hassle and it’s not really that important - all it ever seems to do is make us frustrated anyway.

But then there are the bigger issues - the things that really DO matter; the challenges that crop up in our       marriages or with bringing up our kids, the issues that arise with work/life balance, tackling financial debt, our mental and physical health. - what do we do? Many of us are either tempted to run away or bury our head in the sand, pretending everything is OK.  Or at the other end of the extreme, we keep doing the same things thinking the result will be different or just worrying ourselves into a stand still. None of which ever helps and often makes things worse.  So what are we meant to do when we find ourselves in these moments?

The first thing you need to know is that you are not alone - the bible tells us in Isaiah 41v10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The second thing we need to understand is that, although life may be tough right now, you may not know what to do or be able to change things, God wants to walk you through the valleys and out the other side. Psalm 23 v 4 says it this way “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Thirdly and most importantly if you are willing to let him, God will carry those burdens, those frustrations, those things that in your own strength you can’t solve.  Jesus says in Matthew 11v28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus will take the weight and in return He will give you rest and as I have often found, bring the right solution. Today, may you and I be encouraged to throw our anxieties, challenges and problems on to Jesus who loves and knows you best.