"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
"Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little." Isaiah 28:10
Last year I embarked on a big project to knock down a non-supporting wall in my home and install a new kitchen. As I live on my own, and would be managing the project myself, it seemed potentially a little daunting. However, I acknowledged that “. . . progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, 233:5).
All seemed to be going well, until after all the kitchen units were fitted. I asked the engineer to check the access to the boiler and he confirmed it was now inaccessible. I had already made some interim payments, but at this point I explained to my builder that I would not pay any more until the issue of accessing the boiler had been sorted. I then received an angry email from my builder. He did not feel that the issue was his fault, and it was unfair of me to withhold payment. I was tempted to feel bullied into replying while feeling angry myself.
However, while praying about the problem, I was reminded of a verse from the Bible that had helped me in the past. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1). It came to thought that my builder had a young family to support, and he would worry about not being paid for the significant work he had already completed. I replied calmly, reassuring him that he had no need to worry. I was sure we would be able to find a solution to the problem and I would be able to pay him very soon. When he next contacted me, he was back to his usual kind and helpful tone.
It seemed, though, that a solution was not presenting itself quickly. There were several hold-ups in getting the job completed. I was also concerned that my builder was not always being completely honest with me. I felt hopeless and empathised with David in the Bible who wrote, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me?” (Psalms 22:1). However, God had an immediate and clear response to this sense of doubt!
That evening I was attending a concert in a neighbouring town. I was running late and needed to pay for parking. It was dark and tricky to find the coins I needed, and then to pay by using my ‘ phone.
A couple nearby were able to help each other with this task. I thought how nice it would be to have someone to help me! The next morning, I had a ‘phone call from someone I did not know saying he had found my wallet, containing my bank card and driver’s licence, on the ground by the parking machine. In the wallet was a ‘phone number for a friend, who was able to put the kind man in contact with me. He was going to be in the same town I was visiting that morning and we arranged to meet so he could give me my wallet. I hadn’t even been aware that I had lost it, yet God was right there helping me!
Not long after this I was listening to the audio edition of ‘Anthology of Classic Articles’. The article “All the way”, by Milton Simon in the October 1949 issue of the Christian Science Journal, gave me renewed confidence that my kitchen project would be completed harmoniously.“. . . divine intelligence never furnishes the opportunity without giving one the ability with which to perform it.” I also worked with an idea from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal, “Our God is Mind, the perfect Mind, intelligence divine.” (Hymn 269, verse 2). It came to me to suggest to my builder that we part company and that I find someone else to finish the job. This seemed a little foolish as, who would I be able to find to finish the job and, wouldn’t the original builder feel angry, especially as he felt I still owed him money? However, I was led to find the right person to finish the job and when I emailed the original builder with my suggestion he replied very quickly and simply that this was fine. He never asked for any further payment.
I was amazed that, with no carpentry experience myself, I was able to suggest to the new workman a viable solution to the boiler accessibility issue. The problem was solved, and the job was finished. I’m so pleased with my very attractive new kitchen and am so grateful that God is always with us, providing us with the right ideas, responses and solutions in every circumstance and that God goes all the way.