In This Issue:
Maybe They Need to Fix It Themselves
Fixer of Broken Things
Volume: 1060 August 10, 2026
Theme: Helping Others
Maybe They Need to Fix It Themselves
Bill Brinkworth
Many have the desire to help others who are seen in distress. They see others hurting, struggling, confused, and not knowing what to do next, and believe they can change and help fix the problem. They are considerate, and that is commendable much of the time.
Parents see their adult children struggle. The sight grieves them, and they offer money to get the young adult out of the situation the child found himself in. However, constantly bailing the child out may deprive that person of the opportunity to learn what needs to be understood.
A child breaks the law and faces prison. The father does not want the child to go to jail, which is understandable, and got the best lawyers, paid little concern that his son’s actions hurt another person, but made sure the child was soon freed from getting any jail time.
However, that young man may not realize how the crime has hurt him and others. Now he sees that there is a way out, even when a wrong is committed. Unfortunately, he may not have learned the lesson he should have, and believes he can always get out of a problem. There may be no change in his behavior, and he may find himself in the same situation again.
A homeless person is seen as needy. Kindness is shown, and many of the person’s needs are met. However, that person may have gotten into that situation through bad decisions and may continue to get into them because he never made life-changing decisions to prevent it from happening again.
Advice is offered. Debts are dissolved. Money is given to solve a problem. The intentions are good. Help is wanted and often received, but is that person really being helped?
There are times when people need help. It is the right thing to do in most situations. But if that person repeatedly does the same thing, it may be apparent that he is not learning from his past.
Perhaps the best way to help that person, after he has been helped multiple times and there seems to be a pattern of making the wrong decisions, is to let him experience the consequences of his choices. He may then make changes to prevent repeated behaviors. Most of us learn best and develop a stronger character when we learn a lesson the hard way.
Facing the consequences of mistakes and having to deal with them on one’s own is often the only way a person will make changes. Sometimes the test in the School of Hard Knocks is for the best when it is passed on one’s own. It often refines character.
Many find that when they are at the “bottom of their barrel,” which is usually different for every person, they look for a way up and out of their predicament. Often, at that time, they seek God’s help and learn to rely on Him. They may never look for a way to change or look to God’s help if people continue to solve their problem for them.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
Perhaps that person found himself in a desperate situation because he was never shown what the right thing to do was. Godly advice from a person helping in the situation should be offered, along with any financial or other support, so that the person can avoid similar problems in the future.
Sometimes a person is in a terrible predicament because they know the right way, but, for whatever reason, choose to do it differently. Sweating through the consequences may teach them the right way, so they never find themselves down and out again.
There are also times when a person rebels against logic, social norms, and even runs from the conviction God has placed in their hearts, which is why they are in the situation they are in. Again, helping them out of a situation they repeatedly seem to be in may not be helping them. It may be encouraging them to continue going the way they are because someone always picks up and fixes the shattered pieces in their life.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“If God is working in a person’s life, our helping them may prevent them from learning what God is trying to teach them.”
That person may be going through a trial that God ordained to help and strengthen that person. It may never be learned if others solve the problems for them. Difficulties often encourage a person to trust, obey, and follow the Lord.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:3-6
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverb 3:5 Also: Psalm 37:5, Philippians 4:19.
Helping others when they need help is natural and should be practiced often. However, discernment and perhaps more knowledge about how that person got into an unpleasant situation are needed so that the person can climb out of their trouble on their own and learn never to do what they did again. A self-taught lesson is usually more helpful than all the handouts and fixes someone else could ever do.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. “ Psalm 126:5
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Roman 5:3-5
“If you choose not to deal with an issue, then you give up your right of control over the problem and one will select the path of least resistance.”
― Susan Del Gatto
Fixer of Broken Things
Bill Brinkworth
As a child, when something was broken, usually an adult would fix it. It seemed that whatever happened, an adult, be it parent, teacher, or neighbor, could easily solve the problem that troubled us younger folk.
As I got older, there were problems that an adult could not fix. They tried their best, but their solutions did not work. Many times, they shook their heads and admitted they had the same thing broken in their own lives and did not know how to repair it for themselves.
After I was saved, I learned that there was one who could fix situations and dilemmas that no one else could. It was not the psychiatrist, for they had their own unfixable problems. It was not the doctors’ pills, for they often fixed only the symptoms, not the root of the problem. Nor was it the wisdom of the teachers, for many of them had no idea or experience to address the many traumas one faced in this life. It was God’s wisdom that could fix anything!
“Unfixable” things could be fixed by following the advice in His Word, heard from the preaching of His word, or even gleaned from biblically related writings.. Our heavenly Father has raised trillions. His advice, when obeyed, can fix many broken things in our lives. His Word advises us how to fix:
Broken hearts and feelings:
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18
He can be close to those who have had their hearts broken by tragedy, rejection, or disappointment. Not only can He be with you when you go through the valley of despair, but He can also help you get the victory.
Broken confidences:
“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalms 9:10
Others may fail you, but God will never neglect one of His children. He promises “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
Broken Lives:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17If you have come to a point in your life where you realize you have messed up, God can change you from the inside out and give you a second, third, fifteenth… chance.
Broken fellowships, relationships, and even a broken body of poor health:
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37
When all earthly hope seems to have vanished, there is a God who can do anything and change any situation.
Not all things that are “broken” should be fixed. There are times things need to stay broken and discarded.
Sometimes they are allowed to be “broken,” because if something is not changed, our lives will not be what they should or could be. That is why we should only seek God’s help. He loves us the most and desires only what is good for us and our relationship with Him.
God’s intervention and direction are the best for us. If God’s discernment is that something broken in our lives needs fixing, He is the one who can help fix it. If it is best for you and in God’s will, God can be the fixer of what is broken in your life. There is hope!
“You cannot trace the guidance of the Spirit of God, or diagnose His operations in the secret rooms of the soul. He seems at times to let good go, and to bring good out of evil, and light into darkness.” — R. Benson