Drill vs. Car Hood

Does your home have shutters? I like the look of shutters on a home. They give it a “finished" look.  Mason and I decided that was exactly what our home needed.

It wasn’t a difficult job, but it was a job that required steady hands and feet while on the roof. There is one section of our house that is directly above our driveway. That was the spot I was most nervous about.

I moved my car in front of the area. My thinking was that if Mason fell, it would be better for him to fall on my car than the hard cement of the driveway. He didn’t fall. However, the drill did. It fell directly onto the hood of my car.

It seemed like such a great idea and plan at the time. And to be honest, it could have been worse. It could have fallen drill bit first and punctured the hood of my car. And if my car hadn’t been there, the drill would not have survived. Or Mason could have fallen off the roof!

Why is it that sometimes great ideas end in failure? Why on some occasions are multiple attempts made before success? Why is there a saying, “If at first you don’t succeed; try, try again?” Why can’t an idea always work the first time?

Maybe the idea was too lofty…unattainable. Or maybe it really had no merit and wouldn’t work regardless of how many times you try. Perhaps the method isn’t suitable for the plan. There are obviously many reasons a plan or idea won’t work on the first attempt.

The book of Proverbs has some great wisdom tidbits and Solomon gives us some great advice on planning. Maybe some of these verses might help with a situation you are in right now. Let’s take a look.

• Proverbs 14:22 “Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.”
• Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
• Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
• Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
• Proverbs 20:18 “Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.”
• Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Yes, sometimes our plans may fail, but we know for certain that the plans of the Lord will never fail. Proverbs 21:30 assures us of this. “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”

And regardless of what we are attempting, God will be with us through it all. Listen to the advice given by David to his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:20.“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”

Yes, when God is in the middle of our plans, there will be success. It may not be the success we desired or hoped for, but it is the success God was seeking. And nothing can succeed against Him!

Fortunately, the drill falling off the roof and a dented hood were the only mishaps on this particular project. The shutters complete the look of our home and the house does look amazing! However, I think the next “roof” project will be done by professionals.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna