I've been pretty silent over these last several weeks during our restaurant remodel on purpose. I've been using this time as a sort of reset. I've been trying to take this time to connect deeper with the Lord and work on a few things. I've had some time to work on a few of these projects while our restaurant is being remodeled. One of those projects has been my upcoming book, "Unlikely Candidate," which I hope to release soon, and I've even made good headway on a third book. But it hasn't been all writing—home projects have kept me busy, too. I've tackled everything from preventing our ornate living room ceiling from collapsing to dealing with a leaky shower wall. Out of all the challenges, the one that nearly drove me crazy was our almost-new vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum was supposed to make my life easier, especially when it came to cleaning those cobwebs on our high ceilings. However, the hose had zero suction, and I couldn't figure out why. I took the whole machine apart, cleaned every inch, and put it back together—more than once, but still, no suction. I was this close to tossing the whole thing in the trash and buying a new one that very day. Then, just before giving up completely, I had a moment of clarity: "Maybe I should check the troubleshooting guide," I thought.
So, I went online, found the manual, and forced myself to read through the section on attachments carefully. There, hidden in one of the diagrams, was something I hadn't noticed—a detachable piece on the hose. I found it on my vacuum, pulled it apart, and there it was: a plastic water bottle cap perfectly wedged inside, blocking everything. I sat there in silence, realizing I had almost thrown away a perfect vacuum over a piece of plastic worth less than ten cents.
After putting everything back together, the vacuum worked like a charm, and I finally cleared away those cobwebs. This got me thinking—how often do I do this in life? When things don't go my way, how quickly am I ready to give up on something good just because I didn't take the time to go back to the source and figure out the real issue?
What if I went to the Father in prayer instead, asking Him for guidance in those situations or relationships where I'm facing roadblocks? He has the answers, yet I sometimes forget I can come to Him anytime. Hebrews 4:16 NKJV reminds us, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
In my case, the source was a troubleshooting manual, but in life, it's about turning to God before throwing in the towel. I'm still in disbelief that I almost wasted something valuable over such a trivial problem. Next time you're facing a challenge that feels impossible, go to the source—He knows the answer before you even ask. And He's waiting.
