Dependence on God

2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NKJV)

I am learning to lean on the strength of God the longer that I travel the road of life. Most of us would not identify ourselves as prideful but in reality there are times that we depend on ourselves more than we depend on God. The end result of that "false dependency" is that we rely on our strength and we do not rely on the strength of God. I believe that I am safe in saying that is not the plan of God for humanity. God calls us to lean on Him and in doing so we trust in the strength of God and not the strength of man. Earlier today I read some words from Shana Schutte that stirred my remembrance this morning. I would like to share a portion of them with you today.

"Self-sufficiency is the enemy of grace. If we believe we are able to do everything on our own, why do we need God? Our inadequacies are an opportunity for Him to show Himself sufficient. In this there is grace, a gift we could never receive if we could solve our own problems. God’s grace, and therefore His power, aren’t made manifest in those who believe they have no need for help. It doesn’t shine most brightly in the “I-can-do-it-myself” types. It shines in the inadequate, in those who know they need God’s power to succeed and endure. It shines when we are unable to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. This is when He can show up to do great things in our impossible situation. This is when He is glorified and we are strengthened in our faith and hope by watching Him work. He moves in—and through—ordinary people. He always has and always will."

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

It is with great hope and confidence that I look toward God during those moments of weakness and inability. I am not embarrassed to call on God for the strength that I need. He is the Provider of all things and that includes the strength that I need to navigate through the challenge of daily life.