There are so many things we can learn from the “greatest generation”, the ones who survived The Great Depression and World War II.  These people went through so much loss and lack in their lives but yet continued to press forward.  They learned to scrimp and save, to use and reuse, to create items rather than buy them, and to make the most of leftovers.  My stepdad is part of this generation and at 90 years of age displays all of the above characteristics.  He is a wonderful man who has been in my life for 54 years now. Our latest challenge was with his washing machine.

When there is a problem, you can be sure that my dad will be looking for the solution.  In the spring his washing machine ceased to allow water to enter during the rinse cycle.  The offer was made to him to have a repairman come out and fix it, but instead he said he could work with it.  Since that time my dad has been using the wash cycle, once with soap and once without the soap so his clothes would rinse.  Problem…Solution  Last week he informed me that the wash cycle was no longer filling with water.  So he took a bucket and filled the machine with water in order to do his wash.  Problem…Solution   It was at that point we had the discussion of getting another washing machine. He replied, “No hurry.  I can make it work”.  Yes he could make it work but the truth is he has the money saved up to buy quite a few washing machines.  My brother and I took him out to buy a washing machine this week.  It will be delivered today and he is happy with the “deal” we got on it.

Isn’t it interesting how my dad is always thinking problem…solution?  What a challenge to me!  Most times it is problem, problem.  Sometimes it is problem, no possible solution.  Other times it is problem, deliverance.  How should we view a problem when it comes?  Should we think of how we can solve it? Yes.   Should we enlist others to help us?  Yes.  Should we sit down and give up? No.  Should we pray about our problems?  Yes.  Let’s look at our hearts and try to discover why we don’t do the things we should and instead give in to giving up.

1. Put down your bucket!  Pray about problems.  What keeps us from praying about a problem?  Our own self-sufficiency.  We think the problem we are facing is one we can handle.  We don’t need to bother God with it because it is small in the scheme of things.  The problem is one we think we are perfectly capable of fixing without any direction from God.  This gets us into trouble every time.  God wants us to be totally dependent on Him no matter how small the problem.  “…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16b
2. Go to Home Depot! Evaluate what part we have in the solution.  This is the part where we can sit down and give up because we look at the problem as too much to handle.  If we have prayed and asked God for direction, then we can evaluate and do what needs to be done.  Perhaps we need to call a repairman or clean water out of a basement or go to the doctor.  When there are things we can do, God will give us wisdom to do those as we depend on Him. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”  James 1:5
3. Gather those you trust. Ask for help.  We are so prideful.  We think we can do it all on our own, but we can’t.  God has given us family and community to help us.  It is so hard to ask for help but it is a necessary thing in our lives.  When we don’t ask for help, we deprive others of the blessing of service to us.  Swallow your pride and ask for help.  There may be times when prayer is the only help another can offer but wouldn’t that be enough?  Paul tells the church at Corinth, “You also must help us by prayer…” 2 Corinthians 1:11a

God is the solution to all our problems.  The reason He is the solution is because He gives us the grace we need to handle all that is before us.  We can approach Him with whatever we are facing and He will give us grace to go through it without sinning.  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the “greatest generation” was the title given to every generation following God?  Our lives are not about self-sufficiency or survival but about putting Christ on display.  Let’s depend on Him!  Now that would be GREAT!