When the box of Kleenex’s fell behind the dryer, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Knowing it would be a fire hazard to leave it, I shimmied up on the dryer as best as a 61-year-old woman could to retrieve it. My arms were not long enough.

“I will get it!” my beloved called from the other room. But I didn’t want him to; I wanted to do it myself. I always have to have help. Surely, I could just do this alone.

Trying every mop, broom and duster, I found nothing to latch onto it. “Just wait!” he yelled, knowing I was trying to work it out on my own. I didn’t listen.

I tried to get between the washer and dryer. I tried to move the washer out, but it was too heavy. Then, refusing to wait for help, I found that I could move out the dryer. It was so easy! Much lighter than the washer.

“I got it!” I announced to my beloved, thrilled with my self-sufficiency.

“Did you pull out the dryer?” he asked.

“I sure did!” I responded proudly.

“Did you pull off the dryer vent?”

I took a peek behind the dryer. Aww man, I sure had!

Now we, namely HE, had to fix what I had messed up. My beloved disconnected the washer, took the water hose loose from the wall, and moved it out. In a too-small space, he reconnected the dryer hose using pliers, a screwdriver and reading glasses.

The good news was that we got the box of tissues! The bad news was by jumping in, not waiting for help, and doing things on my own, I caused more trouble than necessary.

That same scenario can happen when I pray. I present my problems to my heavenly Father and then immediately want to help Him work it out. “I can do this!” or “I’ve got this!” I think to myself.

Waiting on the Lord and His timing is always best. Psalm 27:14 strongly encourages, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” There. David, the writer, said it twice in one sentence. But waiting isn’t fun. I want to jump into action.

When I want to move ahead on my own, the Bible directs me to just be still. David writes in Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him…” Then Exodus 14:14 reminds me, “The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” Being still can be a struggle. What can I say? I’m wiggly.

Psalm 130:5 brings the waiting and being still together: “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” When your whole being waits, you are completely still.

God is good. He can be trusted. He knows how all the puzzle pieces of my life need to be put together. He has a plan for my life. If I fully surrender to Him, His plan and His timing, it will be much better than when I take matters into my own hands.

Isaiah 40:31 is another reminder: “But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength…” Those who do not wait will pull the dryer vent loose. Lesson learned.

Written by Dawn Reed.