Who do you turn to when you hurt, are lonely, or depressed? When a circumstance overwhelms, is there a significant person you run to? Are they able to satisfy the longing deep in your soul?
We hear people talk about how they only depend on themselves. We hear others talk of a significant person in their life that is called their rock. I’ve experienced both.
I’ve depended on someone else and other times I only trust myself to fill the need. In either circumstance, I’m unhappy and unfulfilled.
Believing we can depend on others to fill the longing within our soul is a lie. Why? Because with people, we will have disappointment.
God does not disappoint us, even when we think he does.
Relying on God and Not Yourself
In Psalm 42, the writer compares our dependence on God to a deer who pants for water. Just as the deer needs the water, so do we need God. The writer makes clear his unrest unless he restores his relationship with God when he states,
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (v2).
We turn to ourselves or cling to others when in need or trouble. But since we are human, we fail one another. God is there and won’t fail us, but we need to turn to Him.
If you’ve never had a relationship with God, accept Jesus as your rock. If you have already accepted Jesus, but are running from God like I did, simply turn back and accept the rest that only God can restore to you.
The psalmist felt separated from God and the longing in his soul was because he knew his life depended on Him. It is important that we depend on God and not on others or ourselves. Our life depends on it.
Ways We can Depend on God
God is always there for us.
No matter what we are going through in life, God is always there for us. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). We can always rely on Him to be our rock and our refuge (Psalm 18:2).
God is faithful.
We can always rely on God to be faithful to His promises (1 Corinthians 1:9). He is a covenant-keeping God and will never break His promises (Jeremiah 33:20-21).
God is good.
We can always rely on God to be good to us (Psalm 34:8). His goodness towards us is everlasting (Lamentations 3:22-23). We can trust that He will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
God is wise.
We can always rely on God to give us wisdom when we need it (James 1:5). His wisdom is perfect and will never lead us astray (Proverbs 3:5-6). We can trust that He knows what is best for us and will guide us on the path of righteousness (Proverbs 16:9).
God is loving.
We can always rely on God to love us unconditionally (John 3:16). His love for us is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). We can trust that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
God is unchanging.
People are always changing. They have their moods, their seasons, their good days, and their bad days. But God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You can always rely on Him to be who He says He is. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8
Are we Dependent on God?
What does dependence on God look like? Total faith. We believe God created everything and is worthy of our love. We humbly come to him in our brokenness through the blood of Jesus that was shed for our sin. Then we study God’s word to learn who He is and how we can let Him change us.
It was when I stopped running from God that I realized He was the only one who could satisfy the longing within and bring me the comfort I needed. He is the one we can depend on. He is the only one who can satisfy the ache in our soul.
Depending on God to be our rock can be difficult, but our life depends on Him.
Will you rise above the lie and seek the truth today? The choice is yours.
