Do you depend on God?

We all do it.  When things are going well, going as planned, going as we like, we tend to not lean on God so much.  We don't think we need Him as much as we do in the harder seasons.

Big mistake.

We need to thank God for everything and everyone that drives us to our knees in utter dependence on Him. For those are the times when God does His greatest and deepest work in us.  How so?  Because that is when we are full aware of our need for Him.

Wish there weren't so many trials?  That's what a heaven is for!  All will truly be well there.

But for now!

Our greatest strength comes from our deepest dependence on God.  Not in ourselves.  Not in our circumstances.  Not in relationships, finances, prosperity - none of these, as nice as they may be, could ever give us the anchor for our souls that we need.

When we look to anything or anyone else other than Almighty God for our strength and might, we will come up short.  Oh it may look or feel good for a hot second.  But God knows that our peace of mind and heart are found in Him alone.

We can see blessings as the obviously good things in life.  And they are.

But how many of us can see the awful atrocities of life as blessings?  Not many of us.

This is more than Romans 8:28 where God promises us that He will work everything together for our good...eventually.

I am referring to the blessings that He gives us during the trials.  Here a just a few.

1. Our awareness of the reality that we are totally dependent on God
2. We learn that it's not all about us and our comfort and happiness
3. We grow in compassion and grace toward others
4. We may let go of that which was not truly serving us, was not in our best interest
5. We discover the true meaning of life: to know God (not just go to church or however we see knowing God, but truly knowing Him)
6. We are more appreciative of the good times, that which we may take for granted
7. We can drop pretenses, stop feeling the need for "keeping up appearances"
8. We can stop chasing all dreams that are not from God for us

And there are many more, I'm sure.  But we don't usually see them as the blessings that they are when we are in the thick of it.  We just want out.  We just want to escape.  We want to "fast forward" our lives into the future when things will be well again.

But who's to say what the future holds?  God only knows.

Our hope must not be in a desired outcome, how things will turn out for us, for the world.

Our hope cannot be in this temporary, earthly life alone.  It will end soon enough for each of us.

But when we place our hope and expectation and confidence and dependence fully in God, we are safe.  We are secure.  We are whole.  We become who He intended for us to be.

There are scads of people out there, supposed "experts," with all sorts of advice and tips.  But there is only one Source of truth, clarity, purpose, and true life; and that is God's Word.

It's not a "religious" thing.  It's a life thing!  

Jesus came to give us His life, and that abundantly!  Trouble is, we don't always acknowledge that precious gift of His life in us, via the Holy Spirit, when all is hunky dory.

So thank God for the blessings that are your trials.  Thank Him for the good fruit that He is producing in you as a result.  As you surrender to Him and depend on Him more fully, simply let go of control, you will experience the best this life can offer.  

Peace of mind, heart, and soul.  The riches and wisdom of Christ in you (He is all you need).  And then you will see how He uses you in the lives of others for His glory, Kingdom, and purposes. Who we become during the trials will eventually be a blessing to others, if we let God have His way in it all and depend on Him fully.