Dependence

My lovely sister gave me a devotional for Christmas called, Wholeheartedly-A Devotional for Singles. I have not completed this devotional yet, but let me tell you...this stuff is GOOD!

Today's study was on dependence. That is not a word that strong-willed, independent girls like myself like to hear. I mean, I have been taught to never have to depend on a man, or anyone for that matter, for anything. My independence, although sometimes pure stubbornness, is something I take pride in.

Ya'll...this devotional titled dependence. This has rocked my world.

When I go through hard times and times of weakness, I typically lock myself in my room and try to come up with solutions for all my problems. When I reach a breaking point in my life and I need to talk to someone, the people I usually turn to are friends and family, co-workers, my notebook, literally anyone who will listen to me rant. The key word in that sentence is 'listen', because I don't need anyone's advice. Hello, I can handle my own problems.

WRONG!

I know that my God is looking at me and shaking His head. 

*Dependence is a beautiful state where the Lord's glory shines. Embrace your need for the Savior and look forward to all that He will do.

I cannot find joy in anything other than my Lord and Savior. I cannot find peace trying to fix all my problems on my own. I cannot find rest in ranting to everyone about my problems. 

I NEED JESUS!!

He is the only one who can fix this crazy, train-wreck that I call my life. I need to fully rely on God and His perfect will for my life. He will totally and completely wreck my plans so that I can fulfill His plans. *When we are faced with uncertainty, we are given the opportunity to experience a dependence on the Father that makes us stronger than our strongest self. Stronger than our strongest self...wow! I don't know about ya'll, but sometimes I feel like I am Rocky and I can take on the world. But when I rely on Jesus for every single thing, I can become even stronger. When I rely on Jesus and lay my problems at His feet, I can feel peace. When I talk to my Father, the single person who will never let me down, I can find rest. God already has a plan for my life that I cannot even begin to comprehend. His great plan is so much better than my measly, little plan for my life. 

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10