When I was growing up, my dad had a large wooden workbench in his garage. It was the place my dad took things that needed to be fixed. Car parts, plumbing, broken furniture, etc. would find its way to the workbench. It was understood that if something needed to be fixed we could put it on his workbench, and when he had time after he got off of work and went into his garage, he would take a look at it. Usually it would come back to me repaired. My dad always had a knack for fixing broken things.

This morning I have been reflecting on Isaiah 30:15-16, 18.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!”

How often I want to trust in my own self to fix the broken things in my life? How often do I refuse the comfort and compassion of God for situations as I, as the verse says, would rather trust in my own horses and my own strength?

It occurred to me that my Heavenly Father has a workbench, a place I can take my broken things and leave them. He has a place that if I would only recognize that it is not worth me holding on to the broken pieces, but would let Him have it, He can take them and make them better than new. He is waiting for me to have the childlike faith that I used to have for my earthy daddy, knowing that if I just leave it on His bench and not mess with it anymore, my Heavenly Daddy can fix anything.

It’s not easy letting go. Especially when you like to have control, but holding on to the things that are broken in our lives and hiding in our rooms with them, staring at the mess, turning it over and over, studying it, will never solve anything.

We need to place it on God’s workbench, and walk away. Confident that He is able to take care of us no matter what we find broken in our lives.