Independence

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

What does it mean to be independent? 

My mother and father raised me to be an independent woman — to stand on my own two feet — to be able to take care of myself. Subsequently, I have raised my children to be the same.  

It has given me great pleasure to watch all three of my children stretch their wings and fly from our nest. They are all strong. They are resilient. They are independent. 

But my independence only goes so far. Yes, I am strong-willed and resourceful, but I am nothing without my total dependence on God. Only through Him am I able to stand. 

And my children are the same. It is only by the undergirding of the Lord that they have the power to do what they do. 

I’ve been thinking about our fledgling nation from 242 years ago. Our mother country raised strong, resourceful citizens. We recognized what we wanted and stood our ground until we got it. But without the hand of God on this land, we would not have known the power and the dominance that we have experienced. 

Our independence is precious. But let us never lose sight of the fact that it is only by the power of God that we are who we are. Our independence is defined by our total dependence on Him.