Declared as Dependent
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 (NIV)
Insight
If God did taxes, He'd have to declare all of us as dependents.
We live in a country that worships independence and self-sufficiency. We are taught that going it alone is the ultimate sign of strength. We buy into the lie that asking for help means we are weak and deficient. We are terrified of being seen as incapable, incompetent, or lazy—so we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and attempt to live by our strength.
The reality is this: we were created to be dependent. We cannot breathe without God, much less navigate loss, financial stress, estrangement, illness, or depression without Him. If we try to do anything apart from Him, we've failed before we've even begun.
God not only calls us to rely on Him; He calls us to rely on one another. God often uses His children as vehicles to deliver His mighty help to us (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). When we invite our Church family into our pain, miracles happen. Chains break when we take on life's battles together.
It sounds radical, but it's true: no truly good thing has ever come into our lives by independent effort. Think about it: we wouldn't be in this world without our mothers. We wouldn't be literate without our grade school teachers. Without our coworkers, bosses, and clientele, we wouldn't be successful in our careers. We couldn't know Christ without the Church fathers who meticulously translated the Bible and fought to preserve it. Without the farmers and companies that grow and process food, we wouldn't have anything to eat. No part of our lives would function without others. Moreover, our lives wouldn't exist without God, who created us and continuously sustains us.
Complete independence is an illusion and a misguided objective. We must recognize that "going it alone" leads to spiritual deterioration. Without God and His children, we would be nothing. It takes humility to admit that we cannot do things independently, but it is truly liberating.
Reflection
Where in your life do you need extra help from God or others? What would it look like to humbly invite your Father and His children into this area?
Prayer
Abba, thank you for freeing me from the crushing pressure of doing life alone. There are so many burdens that I have to carry in this life, and I couldn't possibly shoulder them all by myself. Thank you for granting me the privilege of relying on You and those You've put in my life. Thank you for bringing me to the end of my strength so that I can remember my need for You. Remind me that complete independence is impossible. Humble me and show me how to invite Your help into my heart. When I depend on You, I can overcome far more than I could alone. Remind my soul that asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is how I leverage Your mighty strength. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today's devotional.