Dependence on God Through Trouble
For me, dependence on God wasn’t something I ever thought about when growing up. As a child, I played with a pet chicken or watched ripples dance across the water when throwing rocks into the pond.
I never imagined that trouble would ever be part of my life. Daily activities consisted of climbing onto a picnic table to swing from a willow tree or finding a missing shoe for my Barbie doll.
Then, adulthood came out of nowhere clobbering me when missing deceased loved ones or enduring misunderstandings and heartaches. Thankfully, I realized I needed a Savior.
Dependence on God through Jesus became my modus operandi. Sorry to say, I didn’t master leaning on Him right away. Life’s rough patches flirted with me and got my attention. I took long roads away from God— temporary detours lined with distractions. I’ve learned how to identify when I depend on God and when I don’t. In this short dependence on God Bible study, here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Dependence on God: Give Up Self-Reliance
Independence runs deep in my family. After spouting, “I can do it myself”, repeating that declaration throughout life sends God a message to keep His distance. He gets it and He doesn’t force Himself on anyone.
Except, self-reliance is a hollow substitute when a Christian views Almighty God as a bystander. Isn’t that what you and I do every time we think we know more than God?
For years, I depended on my intellect (which God gave me) and believed by staying self-reliant I’d dodge trouble—NOT TRUE. My heart betrayed the Gospel message of “saved by grace” so I became spiritually starved and prideful.
When I realized my error, dependence on God became a multi-decade attempt to please Him and no one else. I learned how to let go of my works in exchange for Jesus’ finished work at the cross. He was enough. I could depend on Him. I gave up my busyness to rest with Him. When I look back at my foolishness, I ask, “What was I thinking?”
Dependence on God: Live for Him
Sin always gets in the way of relationships. It’s especially true when cultivating a relationship with God. We deceive ourselves by thinking that self-centeredness elevates us. We travel in circles believing we’ll reach God.
He didn’t make us so we could live as hermits apart from Him. He made us for Himself, to live humbly and worshipfully in His presence. Instead, we look at our navels expecting to find life’s answers.
Looking inward instead of up is the same old lie spoken in the Garden of Eden. The lying serpent convinced Adam and Eve that they could be like God.
Genesis 3:4-5 – You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Humanity has believed that untruth ever since! Along with everyone else, my self-relying nature stares at sin and eats its fruit with gusto. Dependence on God falls by the wayside until you need Him to pick you up, AGAIN.
Once you and I realize our desperate need for Him, He works to free us from sin strongholds (when we let Him). He reminds us that meaningful, real-life only comes from Him. What’s equally wonderful is that God doesn’t shake His finger at us but welcomes us back with open arms.
Dependence on God: Recognize Rebellion for What It Is
As a new Christian, I didn’t understand what it meant to surrender to God. If I did, I’d look weak – right? A minister once prophesied to me that there’d come a day I’d depend on God for everything. My first thought was if that happened, I’d be an idiot. I didn’t know it then but I was a rebel, even though a Christian one.
I led a private revolt against God’s authority while attempting to be His loyal servant. You can probably imagine my inner turmoil. Because of rebellion, Moses didn’t enter the Promised Land, a large fish swallowed Jonah, Ananias and Sapphira died on the spot, and God cast Lucifer (Satan) out of heaven.
Christians turn and go their own way and are numb to the Holy Spirit. They take up the ways of man and look no different than unbelievers. A rebellious heart convinces your flesh to join in willingly. It’s a dangerous position to be in because, if you’re honest, a Christian could betray and abandon God at any time.
The Holy Spirit tugs at my heart when I stray. That’s because I work to keep my heart tender toward Him so I can hear what He says. Even so, depending on God for everything still seems like I have a long way to go.
Trusting God In Difficult Times
Practical applications are what help me depend on God, more and more to transition to trusting God in all circumstances. Here are a few examples.
- Keep an attitude of “Lord, change me.” I say that often when I feel clueless about the next steps of faith.
- Keep an attitude of prayer. Leaning on God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit means communicating with them regularly. The more we express God’s promises, we push out worry and anxiety so confidence in God increases.
- Keep studying the Word of God. Scripture placed on the back burner in importance fades quickly from your heart. We let God know He’s important when the Bible takes preeminence. This is one of the main ways to get to know God.
- Keep dying to self. I found who I was in Christ by seeing worthiness in people and God. When I lack love and trust, God reminds me that I am His and He is mine.
- Keep producing fruit. Work on producing the fruit of The Spirit. You can only do that by staying vitally connected to the vine.
Dependence on God while on earth never stops. He takes you on a specific path of renewal and restoration based on your desire for more of Him. Your journey winds through valleys and mountains you’ve never traveled so you may falter, but just keep pushing forward. He’s always waiting around the next bend.