in dependence.

so, it's the 4th of july, and we celebrate our nation's independence.
don't get me wrong, i'm so grateful to live in a country with so many freedoms, but sometimes i think the whole idea of "independence" is messed-up.
we were created to be dependent...upon community...upon God. and i think it's so easy to get caught up in what the world tells us - that we must "be our own person" and be "self-sufficient" and need no one or no thing...admitting weakness or needing help is a sign of weakness.

independence is defined as "freedom from the control, influence, support, aid of others."...that's FREEDOM?! to not have others support you? to not have God, the creator of the universe, aid you? no way.

i think as we see our own weaknesses, and let God come in and be made powerful through them...and as we see that each member of a community comes together to make a stronger whole, and we depend on and strengthen one another...THEN we will be FREE. free to mess up, free to not be perfect.

then i am free to be me.

we must use the power of the kingdom itself to turn from our rebellious, proud independence, to a submissive, humble, childlike dependence on God...

"SO THEN IT DEPENDS NOT ON HUMAN WILL OR EXERTION, BUT ON GOD, WHO HAS MERCY." (romans 9:16)

thank you, jesus, for mercy...that i don't have to be enough...because You already are.