By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

The Free State summers are very hot. For this reason, two brothers from Bainsvlei in Bloemfontein, Philip (11) and Janco (9) begged their parents for a swimming pool year after year. In previous years their sister, Anje was too small and because their parents, Nerika and Jaco were afraid she might fall into the pool, they refused.

With the lockdown this year, the brothers began to beg again. This time Anje was 5 years old. To the boys' surprise, the parents agreed on one condition: They have to pick up the wheelbarrow and the shovel themselves to dig the hole.

The two boys immediately started making measurements on the lawn and started digging. "Later there were blisters on the two's hands from all the work and if one wants to give up, the other one will ask him: 'Do you want a swimming pool? Now, dig! '”says Nerika.

“We wanted to teach them that you reap the rewards with hard work. It is easy to find someone to do the work for you, but if you put in the time and effort yourself, it is so much more rewarding,” says Nerika. “Nothing in life is free and we wanted to teach our children that if you bring your side, you will be able to achieve your goals.”

With the help of the neighbor’s daughter, as well as mother and father, they finished digging the hole within six weeks and the pool cap was inserted. “Now we can’t get them out of the water,” laughs Nerika.

As believers, we sometimes fall into the trap of expecting that when we pray, God has to do all the work. The truth, however, is that we must do our part. If we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and start exercising. If we desire to know God more, we need to spend time studying the Bible. If we want a better marriage, we need to put in effort from our side to make it better. If we want a better financial situation, we need to make wiser financial decisions.

Is it easy to do our part? Definitely not – ask the two brothers who had blisters on their hands from all the work. What we do know however is that God strengthens us and guides us with wisdom to do what needs to be done. In Philippians 4:13 we read, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Also in James 1: 5 it is written, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

What situation in your life do you want to change? What goals do you want to achieve? Let us talk to God about it and ask Him to fill us with strength and wisdom so that we too can pick up the "wheelbarrow and shovel" and start digging. God bless.

Father God, thank You for the knowledge that You can change any situation. Strengthen me and fill me with wisdom to know what I need to do on my part to experience change. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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