Handyman work is definitely not my strong suit.

While I can tackle a few very basic maintenance tasks, When it comes if building, taking apart or repairing anything structural or mechanical, I am not the person you want to call if there’s a problem.

And while in our living situation, there are people I can call or take things to, my mechanical hesitancy – along with a heavy dose of procrastination – has, at times, led me to leave even minor issues unaddressed for long periods of time.

Yep – I’m usually the guy that just hopes the problem resolves itself in time.

The problem is minor mechanical and maintenance issues left unaddressed over a period time, often just get worse, not better, and more than once, this tendency as resulted in very expensive consequences in the form of replacing high-ticket items (ahem ... a couple of vehicles).

The writers in Scripture tell us the same principle holds true in our hearts and our actions, as well.

There are a host of issues with sin and hurt that we ignore, blow off, or do not address, because we just do not think they are a big deal – until they are a big deal.

Anger over the wounds caused by others towards us, or by us towards others, if not addressed with forgiveness and reconciliation, can fester and devolve into shattered relationships, especially with those closest to us.

Careless spending and pursuit of fulfillment strictly into material things can spiral downward into a mountain of debt.

A longing and lustful glance at another who is not our spouse if we do not confront it can tear apart families and cause unimaginable pain.

The pills and substances we substances reach for to numb the pain and guilt we cannot bear can take us down the devastating road of addiction.

And allowing the wrong kinds of things into our minds can take us down a myriad dark roads we do not want to go.

Quite simply, any pain, any hurt, any sin and guilt we choose not to confront can destroy us from the inside out. I have lived this in painful and destructive ways more than I times than I can count.

But the good news is, we have a chance daily to address it. Paul stressed the importance of taking a daily inventory of the heart in Romans 12:2: 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Not only that, but Jesus tells us to be very careful to address our own heart condition first and foremost, before we start pointing fingers.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye,” he asks in Matthew 7:3.

But this requires the humility to both come before the Lord daily and with an exposed heart, and to allow those Godly men and women He places in our lives to speak His truth frankly to us. Without His conviction and correction through His word and through fellowship, we often will not notice the little things until they turn into big things.

And if there is a problem or a hurt you need to deal with today – do not wait until it deals with you.

Because little things can be a big deal.

Daniel Kiewel is a reporter with the Great Bend Tribune. He can be reached at dkiewel@gbtribune.com.