Yesterday was one of those days that makes you question your own sanity.
We're building our ranch from scratch. That means every fence, every pasture, every gate, every improvement starts with someone willing to put in the work.
Yesterday's job was running seven strands of high-tensile fence wire—about 800 feet each.
Because this stretch cuts through the woods, there was no tractor, no fancy wire puller, no shortcuts. It was all done by hand.
By the time I finished the fifth run, I was spent.
I'm 62 years old, covered in sweat, hands sore, legs tired, and I remember thinking, "What am I doing? Building a ranch at this age is a ridiculous dream."
Maybe you've had moments like that.
Not necessarily on a farm, but somewhere in life where the finish line seems impossibly far away and your body, your mind, and even your confidence begin telling you to quit.
I still had two more runs to go.
As I started the sixth strand, one verse kept coming back to me over and over.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
I wasn't quoting it to motivate myself.
I was reminding myself where my strength comes from.
Every time I had to stop and catch my breath, that verse came back.
Every time I wondered if I had enough left to finish, it came back.
By the time I reached the seventh and final run, I knew something had changed.
My strength had been gone for a while.
Yet somehow, the work kept moving forward.
When I finally made it back to the house, Denise asked, "How did it go?"
Without even thinking, I answered,
"The wire is run... God finished it."
That's the only way I know how to describe it.
I didn't suddenly become stronger.
I didn't find some hidden reserve of energy.
God simply carried me through the work after I had nothing left to give.
I think that's how He often works.
We like to think faith means God gives us superhuman ability.
More often, He simply gives us enough strength for the next step.
And then the next.
And then the next.
Until one day we look back at what has been accomplished and realize there is no way we could have done it on our own.
So much of life is like building fence.
One strand doesn't seem like much.
Neither does the second.
Or the third.
But if we keep trusting Him and keep putting one foot in front of the other, eventually the fence is finished.
Not because we were strong enough...
But because He was.
Yesterday reminded me of something I'll carry into every project from now on.
Sometimes the greatest testimony isn't saying, "Look what I accomplished."
Sometimes it's simply saying,
"God... You finished what I couldn't."
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)