“Don’t Worry, Dad Will Fix It” (Why I Pray for Guidance!)

My children thought I could fix anything! But we all eventually run into things we can’t fix. I discovered my need to pray for wisdom and guidance from the Father, who really can fix anything.

When my children were younger they believed, if something was broken, “Dad can fix it.” If there were personal problems or conflicts, they were comforted by the words, “Don’t worry, Dad will fix it.” My children grew up believing that, no matter the problem, “Dad can fix it.”

When our children were much younger, I no doubt used common sense and maybe some worldly wisdom to “fix” the problems before them.

That was then, this is now

But now, when I listen to the complexity of my children’s trials and struggles, I cannot use human nor worldly wisdom to bring them comfort or help to resolve their personal concerns. I find myself praying more fervently to God for His wisdom, His guidance and for Him to help fix the problems now before them.

As a father, my human understanding and life experiences are not always enough or as sound as I would like them to be when advising my children or others faced with difficulties.

At times, my advice can be open to debate or even be misunderstood. This is why, as a father, I must pray daily for godly wisdom and God’s guidance because, without it, my words are just my own.

Without seeking God’s wisdom and guidance daily, Solomon says, “fools die for lack of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:21).

We are reminded that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it, because God “gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

We need that spiritual understanding that only God can give. We need to allow His words of comfort to be of comfort to us as well as to others.

Why should we pray for wisdom?

If we rely on our own understanding and worldly wisdom without asking God for wisdom, we are shortchanging ourselves. Paul reminds us, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19).

God’s wisdom gives us the balance we need in our approach. It helps us to listen and have the understanding needed in order to know how to give a wise answer or to be of comfort to others.

Through this understanding we learn that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). When we use the wisdom from above, we all benefit from the understanding the Father provides.

Pray for guidance

We should also pray for God’s guidance. Whatever problem we are trying to solve, we need God’s guidance in directing our approach to discern those things that are true and right so that our solutions reflect God’s Word and not our own.

When we ask for God’s guidance, we are asking Him to direct our steps in accordance with His Word so that sin and wrong thinking do not rule over us (Psalm 119:133).

God’s way allows us the ability to respond by using the knowledge, experiences and understanding that God gives to provide the comfort, insight and resolve needed.

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, New Living Translation).

The Father who really can fix it

Now, as I share that wisdom, guidance and comfort with my children, using the wisdom that comes from above and the guidance of God the Father, they can be assured with confidence that, no matter the problem or concern before them, our Heavenly Father really “can fix it.”

Peter Holmes resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with his wife, Schelleta, of 31 years. He serves the Indianapolis congregation as a deacon, where he has also been a member for the past 40 years.