Dependence

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)

*Part one in the DEPENDENCE series of devotionals*

I had a spinal fusion surgery a couple years ago. I broke a vertebrae without knowing it, and it lay undetected for six years. After the surgery, an unexpected thing happened; I wasn’t simply healed in my flesh, but God also sewed together a wound long lived in my spirit. Reflecting on my physical wounds, I found strong similarities with spiritual wounds and this experience became like a parable to me.

For years, I was physically broken in a way that I could not possibly fix on my own, and I didn’t even realize it. A state of brokenness is something that also can live on in our spiritual lives, going undetected for years. We are broken from sin, but often, we don’t realize we need restoration. An x-ray finally allowed me to see that my state of physical brokeness was irreparable.

In the same way, we are occasionally brought to a place of perspective and see we cannot repair our broken spirit on our own.

Unredeemed and without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). But even faith is a grace given us by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3) and not something we can attain ourselves.

The realization that we are irreprably broken can seem hopeless if we don’t understand grace and redemption. We struggle. We attempt to be our own “gods” and we try for healing that we simply don’t have the power to give ourselves.

It is glorious and wonderful when we realize that we don’t have to be be our own savior! Through my experience of pain and surgery the Holy Spirit taught me the most valuable lesson: dependence.

In this brief series, I will share how dependence helps us better understand: the Gospel, God’s love, humility and victory.

– Jordan