Not On Our Own
"There is nothing you have to do that you have to do without Me." This is the thought God spoke to my mind not so long ago as I faced something difficult. As simple as this statement sounds, it is profoundly transformative if we can truly grasp what it means. Living as if these words are true has the power to change our lives.
God knows what we need every moment of every day of our lives. There is not a moment He is unaware of where we are, what we are carrying or what we are facing. He is aware of even our deepest and hidden struggles. He loves us more than we love ourselves even though He sees our failures more clearly than we do. His love is relentless and strong, unshakable and pure. He does not need us but chooses us and lets Himself be affected by us. We have the power to bring Him joy and the power to grieve His heart. What we do or do not do does not alter His love in any way. The One who IS love cannot love more than He already does. He holds the past and the future as well as the present. He is understanding of us and holds us close to His heart. He would rather permanently take the form of a man and suffer the Cross than live without us, yet He lets us choose our own way. He is not manipulative or harsh, but instead gives us the dignity of choice. He takes on the humility of hope, subjecting Himself to the hope that we will see Him and love Him. He takes on the risk of pain when His love is unreturned. He is supremely powerful, yet gentle with us. He has all of the wisdom we could ever need and has an endless supply of compassion and grace. He can give us what we lack and teach us His ways to wholeness and holiness. He wants to be found by us and wants to live our days with us.
THIS is the God who promises that whatever we have to do, we never have to do it without Him. Learning to turn to Him in all of our moments is what growing intimacy with Him looks like. This is growing trust. This is growing faith. This is a growing life of prayer.
What if this year, "God, I don't have to do this without you," became the defining phrase of our lives? What if we can learn to live our moments with Him?
-Conflict with a loved one - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Show me what to do."
-A bad diagnosis - "God, I don't have to do this without you. I am afraid."
-Wisdom needed for a child - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Give me the wisdom I need."
-Grief over lost loved ones - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Comfort my heart."
-Loss - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Help me find you in this."
-Anxiety - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Help me to know You hold all things."
-A big decision - "God, I don't have to do this without you. I need your direction."
-Financial pressure - "God, I don't have to do this without you. You are my provider."
-Doubt/Disillusionment - "God, I don't have to do this without you. You know all my ways and the darkness is not dark to you."
-Church hurt - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Heal my heart and help me see You more clearly."
-Failure - "God, I don't have to do this without you. Help me know how You see me."
-Celebration - "God, I get to do this with you! Thank you for this moment!"
-Time of rest - "God, I get to do this with you! Thank you for this moment to breathe."
What is your prayer? What is it you are carrying?
(Your burden, fears, joys, hopes) - "God, I don't have to do this without you."
For all of us, this year will hold the expected and unexpected, beauty and pain, hopes and dreams, disappointments and failures, but not one of us has to live our lives apart from the God who holds all things in His hands. Whatever this year holds, we don't have to do it on our own. There is nothing we have to do that we have to do without Him!
Psalm 16:8 (NLT) I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
