Get a Grip (What To Do When What You’re Holding is Too Heavy)

Have you ever felt like life is slipping through your fingers? Like what you’re holding is too heavy, too slippery, or just too much to manage? I’ve been there more times than I can count, whispering to myself, “Levi, get a grip.”

Sometimes self-talk isn’t enough. The weight is real. The pressure is real. The sense that you’re losing your edge is real. So the question becomes: how do you get a grip when you’ve lost one?

In 2 Kings 6, we meet a man chopping down a tree when suddenly the iron axe head flew off the handle and splashed into the river. To make matters worse, the axe wasn’t even his—it was borrowed. What seems like a small mishap becomes a big problem.

I love that this story even made it into Scripture. It’s almost comical. God, don’t You have bigger things to worry about? But here it is, right next to stories of armies and prophets and miracles. Why? Because it shows us something essential: if it matters to you, it matters to Him.

The truth is, it’s often not the massive crises that undo us. It’s the accumulation of little things. The late nights. The ignored boundaries. The “yes” we gave when we should have prayed before saying “no.”

Big losses get our attention—we grieve, we get counseling, we process. But sometimes it’s the small leaks that sink the ship. God cares about the “lost axe heads” in our lives, the little things that feel petty to bring up in prayer but are quietly eroding our strength.

Here’s the part that hits home: the man lost the axe head while doing something good. He wasn’t wasting time; he was building housing for other prophets. We tend to think obedience should insulate us from trouble. But Jesus was clear: following Him doesn’t mean a life free of hardship. In fact, sometimes opposition increases when you start walking in your calling. Don’t be surprised when doing right brings resistance. It means you’re a threat to the enemy.

The servant’s first cry was, “It was borrowed!” That’s true for all of us. Our time, talents, opportunities, even the breath in our lungs, it’s all borrowed from God. That truth should both humble us and free us. If it’s a gift, we don’t have to boast. And if it breaks, we can take it back to the Giver. When things fall apart, we can go back to the One who issued the warranty and trust Him to handle what’s beyond our ability.

Even if the axe head hadn’t sunk, it would eventually have gone dull. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “If the axe is dull and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.” Feeling worn down doesn’t mean you’re failing. It usually means you’ve been working. The answer isn’t to quit, it’s to sharpen. Rest, prayer, Scripture, healthy rhythms, community–these are the stones God uses to put a fresh edge back on your soul.

When the man cried out, Elisha asked, “Where did it fall?” Then he made the iron float. God still asks us the same question: Where did you lose it? Where did the passion slip? Where did the peace drain out? Sometimes retracing our steps reveals how we drifted. And sometimes, God simply shows His power by lifting what we thought was lost forever.

Whatever you’ve dropped—confidence, joy, patience, even faith—He can restore.

Right after the axe head story, Elisha’s servant panics when he sees enemy armies surrounding them. Elisha prays, “Open his eyes that he may see.” And suddenly, the servant sees the hills ablaze with angel armies.

That’s reality: what you can see is not all there is. Your problems are real, but so is God’s power. And His presence always outweighs the opposition.

So how do you get a grip? Elisha’s story gives us four keys:

1. God’s power. Not willpower, but His Spirit.

2. Relational vulnerability. Be honest about where you’ve lost your edge.

3. Intelligent choices. Do what you can—pray, rest, eat well, seek wisdom.

4. Professional help. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is see a counselor or doctor.

God makes the iron float. But He still asks us to reach out and pick it up.

If you feel like life is slipping, you’re not alone. You’re not crazy. And you’re not beyond help. The same God who made iron swim is able to hold you up, restore what you’ve lost, and open your eyes to His presence.

So today, instead of giving up—look up.

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