Why We Should Depend on God and Be Thankful He's on the Job

Years ago I came across a meme that really spoke to me: try again, this time with God. It's speaking to me once again. We can’t do it alone. We need Jesus. We are dependent on Him. And nothing drives this point home more than being in a position of need.

Need helps us to trust God and gives Him the opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). When we see God move in our need, it strengthens our faith, and He receives the praise and glory for a job well done.

We Have God's Promise of Provision and More

My husband (Andrew) and I understand this promise of provision well. Our health and finance problems began quite early into our marriage. This has placed us in a position of need for much of our married life together.

However, God has provided for us throughout our trials as He did for the Israelites in the desert. I need this reminder just as much as the next guy!

Related Post: God Did It | My Testimony of Healing

One of the things that Satan uses against me is that Andrew and I always end up back here: struggling.  He wants to convince all of us that this is a bad thing and that there's no hope here, but nothing could be further from the truth.  The enemy of our faith will rev things up the deeper we go with our Lord, but this is what the full armor of God is for (Ephesians 6:10-18). We should take advantage of all that He's provided.

I’m learning, but some lessons take time patience and practice.  Most of all I need a great deal of help from the Lord.  Thankfully, He’s on the job!

Do Nothing in Vain

Psalm 127 goes on to say this: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for He grants sleep to those He loves" (Psalm 127:2). We call this hectic lifestyle the rat race.  It basically means to needlessly subject oneself to heavy burdens.  Aren't you glad that Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light?  Do you believe this, or have you been running the wrong race?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus taught His followers not to worry about the details of their lives (Matthew 6:25). When we worry, we lose sleep. It wastes energy to toil. Why? We’ve got things backwards. We're focusing on needs that the Lord will meet. He knows what we need, and He wants the job of seeing to those details. However, we don't always recognize what it is that we're truly missing.

Dependent and Deepening in Faith

Being dependent is apparently still a struggle for me. I want to be the helping hand, not the one who needs a handout or up. However, Paul the apostle wrote that he knew what it was to be in need and have plenty. He learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:12). He understood that in weakness Christ’s power rested on him.

The truth is, Andrew and I couldn't be in a better position than dependency on God.  However, I thought that I’d learned this lesson already.  At least I believed that we'd had enough experience with this one. As always, I’m overeager to move on to the next lesson before I’ve completed the one at hand.

While Andrew and I ran our small home based business we still required some assistance to make ends meet.  I was content enough with this; we were at least contributing something monetarily.  However, my contentment was disturbed when health issues forced us to shut our business down. Apparently I haven't learned to be content in all circumstances.

Christ Strengthens Us

Right after his words about contentment in all circumstances, Paul also wrote this: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).  This is what I'm aiming for.  I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is making us stronger.

Employment matters, but it doesn't matter nearly as much as I believe it does.  God supplies.  Contributing is important too, but when I write, I am contributing.  I have a hard time accepting that this is the truth and that it's enough, but perhaps this if far closer to the truth than what I’ve been believing.

When we Seek First the Kingdom of God, We Can Expect God to Be on the Job.

I'm out of my comfort-zone, but God has us right where He wants us: in His care. Learning to trust Him with every detail isn't easy, but we grow in faith if we allow Him to do His job.  His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). They're far greater!  Therefore, when we give Him our heart, He’ll direct it wherever He chooses. It's in our best interest that He does.

“A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses” (Proverbs 21:1)