A Declaration of Dependence

“God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with ‘surviving’ and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life.” –  Charles Stanley.

It amazes me how quickly children move from the infantile state of total dependence to relative independence. Each step along that continuum, they start to develop the, “I can do it myself” mindset. This attitude is reinforced by a culture that prides itself on its own resourcefulness and self-reliance. But self-reliance can shut out God. 

We can find ourselves in circumstances that are unfixable and unbearable. Unforeseen trials, huge life changes, medical crises and shattered relationships can leave us lost and powerless.

Yet it goes against our nature to be in a place we can’t fix. We want to be able to handle things. God, however is looking for us to be completely dependent on Him. Often that complete dependence on God results from situations or circumstances completely out of our control. 

Maybe you are in that position right now. You feel powerless. And vulnerable. You need God. Fortunately over and over again God calls Himself “our helper.”

1. “…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble..” (Psalm 46:1)
2. “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)
3. “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:20)
4. “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

We depend on God all the time, and there are times we can do nothing else. The Lord gives us the faith we need to make it through those times. But it is not all about bad times. We need and are dependent on God in good times as well.

I love these words from Hudson Taylor:

“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where he places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth of things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in positions of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you worry about most? When do you replace your faith in God with worry? What is the most generous gift you have ever received? How did it make you feel?
2. Why would you want to depend on God’s unfailing faithfulness rather than your well intentioned efforts?
3. Have there been times when you felt that God disregarded your pain and your struggles? How did you feel? How did you respond?
4. What changes could you make so you will be totally dependent on God in all things?