Dependence

Dependence.

Doesn’t it sound like a weak word? Whenever you are describing yourself, would “dependent” be a word you’d choose?

In a world where independence is vastly celebrated, the concept of dependence, specifically our dependence on God, is a very hard concept to grasp. We struggle with dependence more than we realize!

When we struggle with worry, we struggle with dependence.

When we struggle with fear, we struggle with dependence.

When we complain, we struggle with dependence.

Because, whether we admit it or not, we want to depend fully on ourselves. We lean on ourselves. We want to be fixers, lifters, solvers of our own puzzles and challenges.

Yet, we wonder why we are so stressed all the time, why struggles last so long and why we aren’t fulfilled.

The answer is simple: we are carrying a load that we weren’t meant to bear.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15:5

But how do we do this? How do we get out of our self- dependence loopholes and allow God to be our true sustenance? Alas, there is good news: God wants to help!

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15

The Word offers us a solution:

1. See
2. Hear
3. Understand
4. Turn
5. Be Healed

Let’s go through each one.

#1 — See

Have you ever been to a fun house?

Every room is made to distort reality in some way or another. There are mirrors that make you look very small or very big, mazes that seem impossible to get out, and even rooms that are made to look like they are completely upside down!

In a way, this world is exactly like that. It’s full of mirrors that make problems look smaller or bigger than they really are, and obstacles that make it really confusing to choose the right path to go. Our eyes are tricked. We can easily forget how reality, God’s reality for our lives, looks like.

When we let our sight wonder and go on “auto pilot,” we let distractions get in the way.

In contrast, God calls us to be alert and see.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Every day, spend some time to really look at your circumstances and choices. Stop. Evaluate which lens you are looking at life through. Ask God to provide vision into what He’s doing.

#2 — Hear

Once your eyes are grounded in reality, it’s time to listen to the voice of God.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20

As with the fun house, there is no shortage of voices and messages in this world. It can be tempting to look up solutions to our problems online and end it there. But is that really the voice of wisdom? A lot of advice out there doesn’t get at the core of our real condition. Something that looks mundane and simple can have deeper rooted issues that we might not even be aware of! And the truth is, we all need healing one way or another. Life just has a funny way of letting these things show progressively when you don’t even expect it.

God says that His word is alive and active. After you look at your circumstances and choices, stop and pray. Ask for wisdom. Read the Word. Make time to listen. He always has something to say.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17 | NIV

#3 — Understand

When you were in school, it’s quite likely that when the teacher talked about a subject, you did not walk out the room an expert. In fact, often times, it took repetition, reading further, context, practical application and even using other methods (visuals, etc.) to reach an “a-ha!” moment.

I still use my fingers to count. Personally, visuals are a great way for me to grasp abstract concepts or ideas. Even to this day, whenever I’m writing a report for work, I often do a paper sketch of what I want each page to look like.

If there’s a new song I like, I often look up the lyrics to understand it and sing along until I learn it or play the song over and over and over! If I’m really interested in learning it, I do that without hesitation.

We are willing to do this for seemingly mundane things, so why shouldn’t we do this when we are trying to learn and understand God and His voice?

Jesus gave us a picture of the battle that is going on in the spiritual realm when we hear His word:

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:18-23

Maybe you’ve tried seeking His voice and don’t really understand the verses you read or what the application is. If this is the case, don’t brush it off! This is another opportunity to practice dependence on Him — dependence for wisdom and revelation.

Take the time, pray for more wisdom and look for the direct application for your life. God might even identify some things that you need to give up.

Don’t be afraid of asking fellow believers to help you understand His Word or a message you believe you are getting from Him. God desires for you to understand! He is not a God of confusion.

#4 — Turn

Once we understand His word, there are things we will likely have to make the choice to turn from. Depending on God means getting rid of the “crutches” we have been leaning on, and that can be hard!

Just as an example, I realized that often when I’m overwhelmed or want a break, I log into social media. God isn’t my natural go-to. Thus, I have to make choices and turn from my natural inclinations to fill up time. Sometimes, that means deleting a social media app. Other times, it means putting a verse on my phone background that will help me meditate on God when I am otherwise looking for a distraction.

Whatever it is, “turning” is an action. It needs to be intentional. It’s worth nothing if we just read a verse & think it’s lovely. If nothing changes, we miss the point.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

#5 — Be healed

This is the best part of all because of one simple reason:

it’s 100%, God…

0% you.

When we stop to see, hear and understand God and turn away from ourselves into dependence in Him, He will honor that. God wants to heal us and comfort us! He wants to give us rest.

Now, this is not to say God can’t heal you and help you unless you do these things. He’s God! He often helps us when we have completely butchered ourselves with our choices.

However, since sin does separate us from God, us enjoying the fullness of His plan for our lives often depends on us aligning with Him.

This is what happens when we turn away from God instead of to Him:

But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things. Jeremiah 5:23-25

I know neither of us wants that to be said of us! In contrast, this is what awaits us if we look to Him instead of ourselves:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Direction, joy and eternal blessings are available. That’s not to say that things get easy, but as Jesus said…

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Song

Below is a song I wrote called Sustenance. It’s based off a prayer from a friend, and it often helps me re-focus on God as my source. I hope it helps you refocus too!