I Was Sure I Could Handle It…

Papa Hays was one of my heroes.

I watched him drive nails into plywood like it was nothing—

Pop, pop... pop.

At six years old, I wanted in.

He handed me the hammer.

I swung with confidence.

Missed.

Swung again. Missed worse.

After twenty tries, I had one bent nail barely hanging on for dear life.

He just grinned… took the hammer back…

and sank the nail deep—where it would hold when the storms came.

That memory came rushing back when I read Ecclesiastes 12:11: “The words of wise men are like goads… and like well‑driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.”

God’s Word does two things:

👉 It prods us when we drift.

👉 It anchors us when storms hit.

A goad moves stubborn cattle in the right direction.

A well‑driven nail holds a structure together when pressure comes.

Here’s the truth:

Most of us aren’t unstable because life is hard.

We’re unstable because we’re not anchored.

If you want to be a “well‑driven nail”—steady, strong, immovable—let the Shepherd drive truth deep into you.

Before the texts start buzzing.

Before the demands start clawing.

Before distractions start shouting—

Open the Word.

Let it correct you.

Let it anchor you.

Storms are coming.

I want to be a well‑driven nail today.

Do you?

#devotional #wisdom #encouragement