Last week I spent two days babysitting my grandson while my daughter and son-in-law worked out of town. We had so much fun! We played cars and trains. We spent lots of time coloring. We walked to the park. We ate ice cream. Twice. Shhh, don’t tell.
At just 2 ½, Micah is still very dependent on adults. He can’t fix his own meals or bathe himself. He can’t put himself to bed or buckle himself safely into his car seat. I had to do all those things – plus many more – for him. He was almost completely dependent on me.
You know what? I love that! I love that Micah needs me. My heart warms when he asks me for water or raises his arms for me to pick him up. His dependence actually fosters our relationship. He looks to me to meet his needs and I respond. As he learns to trust me, the bonds grow even stronger.
Our relationship with God is like that. We are that needy toddler and He is our doting Father. As He supplies our needs we learn to trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more we depend on Him. The more we depend on Him the more we experience His faithful, loving care.
David knew what it was like to be dependent on His heavenly Father. He had experienced God’s unfailing love and tender care, again and again. The 23 Psalm paints a beautiful picture of this dependent love relationship.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Like sheep depend on the shepherd to meet all their needs, so we can depend on God to meet ours. He is our sustainer, guide, comforter, protector, and provider. Even when we don’t know what we need, He knows. And when we think we can do life by ourselves – even when we turn away from Him – He continues to pursue us with His unfailing love.
Oh believer, let’s throw off our independence and embrace our dependence! Let’s allow Him to lead us into rest. To renew our strength. To guide us along His path. Let’s open our hands to receive the feast He has prepared. To hold our cups high. Let’s raise our arms to our loving God and allow Him to pick us up and carry us.
As you listen to “Forever Reign” run to loving arms today!
Praise God that He pursues us with His unfailing love! How does that truth impact you today?
So true, Kathy. I’ve strived to be independent because that gains respect in the world. Then I realized what the word independent meant: to rely only on myself: my strengths, my wisdom, and my talents. In other words, I need no one else.
I learned the hard way that God is my only sure foundation. Anything built on my efforts crumbles. I need Him. I am totally dependent on Him to sustain my life.
It’s easy to get caught up in the things that have value in the world and forget that I belong to God. He is my Savior, no only from my sins but also from the dangers of this world.
Hi Sherry! Your description of “independent” is spot on. Thank you for sharing that as well as your “dependent” need for God. May we all be more and more dependent!