As a baby, we grow and learn how to do things for ourselves. We spend many years trying to learn how to be independent. From walking to talking to eating to reading to driving, we become more and more independent. We are so often taught about hard work and pushed to put forth great effort to become a “success” in life. And there is nothing wrong with these milestones and achievements.
Nonetheless, no matter how hard we work, no matter how much we learn, there is no way we can be truly independent. We rely on God, whether we believe or not. He is our Creator and our Sustainer. But sometimes because we have achieved some success in life, we begin to put our confidence in our own hands or in the hands of others. Someone might have come through for us a few times and we believe we can count on them. Or we only trust ourselves because we know we can get the job done.
No one can do it all. Everyone falls from time to time, some more than others. Humans are finite. Humans make mistakes. Humans have needs that can only be met through God. When we put our confidence in people, we will always be let down. There is only One who can keep every promise. There is only One who knows all the stars. There is only One who sees all things, knows all things, created all things. There is only One who can save us. Therefore, “we rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.” He alone is our hope and confidence.
“For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort.” – Philippians 3:3 [NLT]
Tania Gutekunst 