There’s a five-word question that can show you exactly where you’ve grown dull. It takes humility to ask it—but it’s the key to letting God’s refining power work through others in your life.

I learned this the hard way standing under a towering tree that was seconds away from taking out a power line.

The saw was screaming and wood chips were flying out the bottom and showering my legs and feet. I looked up and was comforted by the rope tied to the tree and tethered to my truck but unsettled by the tree’s stubborn lean toward the power line.

About 10 minutes prior to this, my helper and I tied a rope half-way up the tree and tied the other end to my truck and put a little tension on the rope to encourage the tree to fall away from the power line.

I fired up the saw and started cutting into the backside of the tree, but to my alarm, it leaned even harder toward the line. I yelled for my helper to increase the tension, and then—POW—the rope snapped! I stopped the saw and watched helplessly as the tree came running back in the direction of the power line with only a quarter of its trunk left holding it upright. Thankfully, it didn’t fall.

We recalibrated, retied the rope, and reset the truck to pull the tree back away from the line.

I cranked the chainsaw once again and looked at the teeth of the chain. They appeared aggressive, sharp, dangerous, ready to eat. That’s exactly the way I wanted them. Actually, I had been very particular to keep the chain away from the dirt as I was cutting the limbs to get to this point.

I went all-in, full throttle, no going back now. The last 1/4 of that trunk cascaded onto my legs and feet in quarter-size chunks. The rope held and that F250 coerced the tree to follow it down into the yard and away from the power line.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

Our abilities are a lot like that chainsaw—we want them sharp when it matters most. But when we get into the dirt, we grow dull fast.

If you’re feeling dulled, you’re not alone—and you’re not without hope. Remember: iron sharpens iron.

Here’s the five-word question that unlocks the promise of Proverbs 27:17: “Where am I going wrong?”

Find a trusted, proven brother or sister in Christ. Ask the question. Let them answer honestly—and truly listen. That’s one way that God keeps our edge sharp and our hearts humble.