Testimonies: Lesson in asking for help - Broken Tractor
Pin, Turnbuckle, Bent linkage
This is a picture of my Tractor Moving a Tree.
I used it in an aggressive way to clear my property of brush and small trees.
One of these trees got caught up in the rear suspension and bent the linkage
(see pic of bent threaded rod and the large pin). These parts are sitting on my trailer fender, you can see the two trailer tires underneath. Point is these are not small parts.
Below the picture of the parts is a picture of the rear suspension with half of the linkage hanging.
After I received the new parts, I needed to put this Pin back in place.
This is an extremely difficult task.
- First of all, it is in a very awkward spot.
- The Pin must start inside the Tractor’s Rear Wheel.
- The Backhoe platform, seat and stabilizer pad are lurking for you to hurt yourself.
- I needed to get on hands and knees and awkwardly reach in to see if the Pin would slide in.
- To get the Pin in, I needed to have 5 holes in thick metal parts to all align. See the pick looking down the linkage. The Pin goes from the Tire horizontally through 5 pieces of metal (2 for U shaped connector, 2 through Suspension and 1 from platform above).
- To get them to move, I had to climb out from the awkward position to check the Pin and climb into the tractor to move either the front bucket or the backhoe up or down on the ground to shift the tractor around. As you can imagine, these are not subtle movements. The Tractor is a crude piece of equipment using hydraulics.
I spent about an hour working on this. By the end of this time, my knees and back were very sore. I had hit my head and back on metal parts several times. Then I hit my head pretty hard. I was so frustrated and then got angry.
This is where it gets very interesting.
I had been learning a lot about God the Father.
I also use Empathy to comprehend situations and people and in this case God.
I knew I shouldn’t give in to anger and frustration and I started to question: what if I was my Son? I would want to help. God is a loving Father, he probably wants to help.
I began to laugh out loud.
Then I said out loud while still laughing: “Alright Father, I get it. Lesson learned. I can’t do everything on my own and I should ask for help”
Then I took some time to calm myself.
Stretch my knees and my back, get a drink of water and relax for a few minutes.
When I was calm and ready, I prayed to Father and told him I obviously can’t do this on my own and I need your help. Would you please help me?
I went and made one adjustment to the front bucket and the Pin slid all the way through. I was Amazed. I had been doing the same thing for an hour and nothing, now 1 try of the same thing I had been doing and boom, all 5 holes across 4 inches of travel all lined up. Pretty Awesome!
I laughed some more and then thanked him for the help!
You can choose to be cynical if you want, I lived it and I know what I felt. The Energy in the Spirit combined with all the factors I already mentioned. I know deep in my heart that I was aided and I did not do that on my own. I had help and our Heavenly Father Loves me and he Loves you too.
While I was typing that last sentence, I laughed and teared up at the same time. That has been happening to me more often lately. Only God has ever been able to make me laugh and cry at the same time. He is mighty and powerful and he loves us!
Matthew 21:22chapter context similar meaning copy save
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James4:3chapter context similar meaning copy save
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
John 14:13chapter context similar meaning copy save
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
I am filled with Love for our Heavenly Father who wrapped you up like a loving Father would and spoke life into this frustrating situation.
That after surrendering.. Your prayer got answered.
“ Let’s do it my way…not yours”
I love this