"Complete Dependence"

By Zach Wood

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father

of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

 

 

If there is one phrase I have heard more than anything else in my life of being a Christian, it is this:  "Trust in God to provide".  Not only have I heard it countless times, I have said it countless times to others in times of need.  I have read story after story through magazines, online articles and in books of people who have truly put their total trust in God to provide.  I am always amazed and brought to tears when I read these stories.  What speaks to me the most is how people trust in God no matter what opposition comes to them.  The stories come from people who truly believe that everything they have comes directly from trusting and obeying God.  Wow!  What testimony!

 

Even though these stories are fascinating, inspiring and life-changing, I often find myself not believing that I can put my total trust in God.  I admit that I find myself so much in life just not allowing Him to be my total dependence.  God has given me a beautiful family, a home, a car, a job and a great church family!  However, I continue to fight through times where I just get so scared and lose hope that He will provide.  When finances get tight, I worry and tent to lose trust.  When I am having a bad day at work and I feel that I cannot work another day in the same place, it's often hard to trust.  When I lose my temper with my wife or little girl, I tend to lose trust that He will give me strength to be a better husband and father.  Why do I lose this trust?  Because I lose my focus on what is important.  I follow the desires of the world too much and don't put my total dependence and trust in Him. 

 

No matter what I am going through, I must remember that God is in control and I need to put my full trust in Him to provide.  He ALWAYS provides!  He has never broken His promise to provide.....and NEVER will. 

 

How about you?  Do you find yourself in a challenging time of life where you struggle to trust that He will provide?  James reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from a loving and compassionate God.  He gives us everything we need.  He needs to be our complete dependence.  Not the world.  We know this, but do we live it?

 

I want to encourage you, if you are experience situations right now where it's so hard to trust, remember God has promised to provide and He will never let you down.  Hold onto that promise of trust.  Make Him your complete dependence.