Wisdom From The Sandbox… Hello Hump Day readers. 2025 has taken off with heavy storms, political upheaval, and the question: “what is going to happen this year?” Many are facing tough challenges and it can be daunting, hope fades and strength seems like dried up twig. I watched a PBS show with a variety of commentators sharing what 2025 may be. One of them from South Africa shared a story that begs to be read so, here goes…

A little boy was playing in his sandbox one day. While playing, he discovered a large rock smack in the middle of the sandbox. After a lot of hefting, he did manage to dislodge it from the dirt and then he nudged it across the sandbox using his feet! He got it to the edge of the sandbox and sat down for a bit and then continued to push it only to realize he couldn’t roll the rock up and over the little wall that surrounds the sandbox. He shoved, pushed, and pried but the darn rock just fell backwards into the sand. What he didn’t know through all his efforts was that his father was watching from the living room window. Finally the boy just sat down and cried with frustration, throwing sand all over the place.

Then he saw a large shadow and he looked up to his dad who towered over him. His dad then wrapped his arms around his son and wiped his tears, and gently said, “My son, why didn’t you use all the strength that you had available?” Defeated, the boy sobbed back, “But I did, Daddy, honestly I did.” His dad replied, “No son, you didn’t use all the strength you had because you didn’t ask me.” Then the father took his son, and the two of them picked up the rock and removed it from the sandbox.

Where are you today? Struggling, trying to push out the “elephant in the room” so you can go forward instead of being stuck? What rock are you trying to turn over? Like the little boy, trying to overcome challenges by ourselves stops us in our tracks and squashes the little breath we still have.

In 2 Chronicles 16:7-9, Asa, the King of Judah was in a pickle, he had tried to make a treaty by stealing offerings of silver and gold from the Temple of God — as if God didn’t know what he was doing. So what happened next? Read on:

“Just after that, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, “Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn’t ask God for help, you’ve lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn’t the Ethiopians and Libyans come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God’s help. Now you’re in trouble—one round of war after another.”

What sandbox are you stuck in right now? Are you asking for help or choosing the Sinatra option which makes a good song but doesn’t work, “I did it my way…” What keeps us from not giving our struggles to God? Could it be our ego or perhaps maybe not enough trust? Like King Asa, we continue winding up with one round of war after another. I think it’s time we give this war to God who can change it to the peace we need and the strength we need to move the rocks and walk on the path God has purposely made for us. Enjoy your sandbox, no rocks, just sandcastles, they easily fall apart and it is fun to make them again! AMEN.