If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
– Ecclesiastes 10:10
As a favored son of King David, Solomon probably didn’t spend much time chopping wood. Yet as the wisest man who ever lived, he certainly grasped the concept of working smarter not harder. The sharper one’s axe, the more effective each swing will be. In my younger years, as a carpenter and remodeling contractor, I bulled my way through construction projects. Yet as the physical wear and tear increased, I grew to appreciate the wisdom of using sharpened tools. At the end of the day, I accomplished more and had energy to spare.
What is true with cutting firewood and building houses is true of fighting cancer or handling any trial in life. At first during my own cancer battle, I tried to gut it out, blasting through pain and ignoring my body’s signals to ease up. The result was infections, exasperated doctors who were only trying to help me, and unnecessary setbacks in my treatment plan.
The Lord’s wisdom eventually broke through to me. Anger, denial and control had been dulling my coping skills, forcing me to fight so much harder. As my battle and the stakes intensified, the sharp tools of surrender and patience allowed me to cope so much better. Relying on my own human strength was not working out so well, so learning to draw on His supernatural strength became a necessity.
To sharpen your coping skills, we recommend our book, In His Grip, Meditations with the Great Physician.
Lord, help us be wise about how we fight; give us Your supernatural skills to cope with our battles.
