Letting Go and Holding On

By: Chloe Grabeman

Do you remember the first time you rode a bike? Nervously pedaling while parents carefully let go and you conquer the two-wheeled beast by yourself. You return to a cheer squad of two as mom and dad praise your triumph, beaming with pride.

From an early age, we exalt independence of every kind.

We celebrate the underdog.

Applaud self-discovery.

And encourage individuality.

But because of this constant conditioning of independence, we can’t resist rejecting our discomfort at the mention of dependence.

Our thoughts roam to a helpless baby or a needy girlfriend. Individuals who don’t care to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to succeed.

Because we find pride and identity in our independence. In the long hard journey traveled from novice to master.

As always though, the earthly and heavenly meaning of dependence translates two entirely different ways of life leaving us with a skewed understanding of God’s true intention.

It convinces us of two things: we don’t need God or he doesn’t want to be with us.

We often believe that depending on God should have a point of graduation. A moment where Daddy sees you’re ready and let’s go of the bike for you to travel on your own.

Or

We think God sees us as a disappointing apprentice – A teacher frustrated by our inability and sick of our presence.

But the truth is, no matter how much we like to claim our independence, we are completely dependent beings and specifically made to be.

Psalm 147:8-11 says:

    He prepares rain for the earth;
He makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

All of creation has a life dependency that cannot be obtained in an effort of its own. But its beauty is found in its dependency.

The difference between the earthly and the heavenly “dependence” lies in the existence of a relationship. It is not in our own strengths and abilities the Lord delights in, but rather in those who choose to be dependent on him over themselves.

Ever wondered why God chooses our weakness to showcase his perfect power? Because it draws you to him as you rely on his strength. You cannot please God without being dependent on him!

His dependency is completely otherworldly. The delights of the Lord, the fruits of his spirit, do not come naturally to us – they are infinite language that our finite beings can only learn from time spent with him, desired by him.

You are desired by God. He longs for you to abide in his steadfast love. To bear fruit by learning to love his ways.

But just like the lilies of the field rely on the rain our beauty is in our dependency.

Playlist:

Cannot Do This Alone – Colony House

Learning to Breath – Switchfoot

Overwhelm Me – The Village  Church

Control (Somehow You Want Me)– Tenth Avenue North

Running In Circles – Will Reagan

Touch the Sky – Hillsong United

From The Inside Out – Hillsong United

Listen here at the Real and True Playlist on Spotify: (newest blog playlist are always first songs at the top) https://open.spotify.com/user/128815512/playlist/3YfqgeMjEUj7ZB8ydKd5qL 

Check out Chloe and Linda Grabeman’s book Real and True: Hope for the Restless Heart at www.realandtruehope.com