Everyone Needs God

I am not very often in circles where people actually spurn God.  However, it seems to me that many people act like they don’t need Him.  People act like they know what’s best for their lives and don’t need God meddling in their affairs.  Sadly, this is true even in my circles and too often in my own life. 

We tend to act like independent creatures who can “handle it all” and therefore don’t think that we should allow ourselves to need; we would look too weak.  Some have been disappointed by the course life has run for them or  for others and shy away from some Sovereign who would allow it to be so.  There are those who feel better about their lives and safer when they appear to have control over it by presenting themselves as competent, successful individuals.

The problem with this comes in the truth that we never really are fully in control.  It’s really a sham that we put on for ourselves and as many around as we can get to buy it.  When this fragile alter-reality starts falling, we are in trouble.  Or perhaps rather, it is then we can be rescued. 

Everyone does need God...if no other reason than He holds the universe in check.  Yes, there are complex and mind blowing “laws of nature” that keep the earth spinning and sun shining, but God made those laws, keeps them functioning, and can cause them to stop.  In addition to that, we really don’t have control over our own little worlds like we think we do.  While suffering is inevitable for the child of God, there are bumps in the road that we needn't hit if we are following Him.  When the realities of the broken world around come crashing in on our lives, we don’t need to handle it on our own.  God will be there to help us through them.  We need Him.  Desperately.  So far, we're only talking about living here and haven't even touched on our need for eternity.  The need there is far greater.

As the years go by, I find it better to need Him than to try to make it on my own.  I tend to want to make it on my own.  I don’t want to need others.  I want to prove myself worthy.  I want a good reputation.  Little by little, all those attitudes have been uncovered.  They are not what God calls me to.  God wants me to trustfully walk in dependence on Him and interdependence with His people.  I will never be worthy by anything I do without the blood of Christ covering all my sin and inadequate attempts to do so.  My reputation matters little if it is about me – when my whole life needs to be wrapped up in who He is.  I found out I can’t keep any of that together and I am desperately needy.  I’m learning to be okay with that.  I can't say I am okay with this all the time, but I’m learning. 

It helps that He is always, always faithful...even when I don't understand.