At some point in our lives we will all experience challenges that seem to overwhelm us. Challenges that test our very mental and physical ability to get out of bed each day and put one foot in front of the other. It is during these times that we recognize that we are woefully under-equipped to face these challenges on our own. If we are fortunate, it is also during these times that we recognize that there is a God who is able and willing to provide all that we need in our lives to not only survive but thrive. As children we are taught to be independent. It is viewed as healthy to be self-sufficient and strong. We are given praise for learning to do things for ourselves. We are directed to demonstrate our independence by learning to tie our own shoes, brush our teeth and dress ourselves. We are conditioned to believe that the more independent we are and the less reliant we are on other people, the stronger and better off we will be in our lives. This conditioning sets us up for a rude awakening later in life when we all must come to the realization that we need each other and most of all we need God. Nothing good in life is done in isolation. Whatever good we accomplish is possible through the grace and power of God. We are all the beneficiaries of His grace and mercy, whether we admit it or are even aware of it. I often wonder what great things we would be able to accomplish if we retrained ourselves to be less independent and more dependent on God. I understand how difficult it is for many of us to make ourselves vulnerable and admit that we have insecurities and fears that keep us from really opening up ourselves to God. I also wonder how God must feel as we pretend to be “big boys and girls” who have all the answers, and how it must pain Him to watch us needlessly stumble, fall and often self-destruct. It is amazing how reluctant we are to admit to God what He already knows and to accept His healing love and forgiveness. My hope is that we will all begin a period of retraining ourselves to lean and depend on Jesus. We must retrain ourselves to trust in His word and in His promises for our lives. My hope is that we won’t have to hit rock bottom before we wake up to His power and His unconditional love. He is waiting with open arms for us to confess all of our sins, tell all of our secrets, and unburden ourselves of the weight of independence. If we can learn to trust God, we can also learn to trust each other. If we can learn to truly love God, we can also learn to love ourselves and each other. I am convinced that despite all we must face in life, whether it be sickness, unemployment, foreclosure, death of a loved one, or betrayal by family or friends: God is all we need to not just survive, but thrive! Sincerely, |
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