Learning to Lean on God - Understanding His Desire to Be Involved in Our Daily Issues

It’s in how we perceive our identity before God that defines how we live our life before Him. For instance, if we think He is a dictator and we have no effect on what occurs in our life, our relationship to Him in prayer will be little or nothing. Why would we want to talk to a God that sees us as robots? If, on the other hand, we see Jesus not as a far off dictator, but more as a “friend that walks closer than a brother,” our life before Him will look very different. How involved is God? And how much do we contribute to what He does and doesn’t do? How much does He want to be involved in this thing called life anyways?

The fact is, He wants to walk alongside us. The very reason behind creating us is that God would have a partnership with us. It’s the very thing we crave as human beings – intimacy. It is the joy we have when we are among friends, the feeling we get when we are among safe people, and the ability to swing wide our hearts and share what we want with someone without any fear of being rejected. That part of you and I is a part of the very heart of God. He longs for this kind of relationship with you and I. This is what He wants and this is what we are made for. Partnership and friendship with Him. Just to know that He cares about the smallest things that worry us should be a reminder of His desire to lift the things that bother us. We aren’t meant to walk through life alone. Although people are a gift from Him in our lives, it’s impossible for another person to know every part of you. Yet, God not only knows you, but is “familiar with all your ways.” (Psalms 139) Yes, we need others and it is no accident God has set certain people in your life, there will never be another that can understand you like He does. Your spouse can’t, your parents can’t, your best friend can’t, and you can’t even know yourself like He knows you! One of His names is “Counselor” because He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. He knows this because He knows you so well.

What do you lean on in tough times? Usually it’s something that will make us feel better for a moment. We are people made for pleasure and it’s human nature to turn to something that will help us “feel better.” It helps us to forget about things for awhile and we can hide behind whatever it is we are leaning on. For every broken heart, every disappointed person, and everyone who feels like giving up, there is one strong enough to hold you up during the darkest of times. Just go ahead and lean on Him – His shoulder is very comfy and quite safe. Stay there for awhile and don’t be afraid to pour your heart out to Him. He holds all of our tears in a bottle and He wants to hear everything you have to tell Him. I’ve wetted His shoulder plenty of times, and I always feel better when He gently picks up that heavy thing I had been carrying only to exchange it with His peace and love. Lean into Him when you have nothing else to give and He will carry you.

Tonight I feel His heart for us. Maybe you are carrying a really heavy load right now and you feel like the pressure is never going to give. His heart towards you is one of compassion. He is really good at walking with weak people through difficult situations. Actually, He is an expert at it. I would not say it if I had not experienced it for myself. The hardest part is learning to not try and fix everything on our own. Not only will it give us a nervous breakdown, but we just can’t do it. If that’s you, begin to see God not as a far off dictator but as a caring Father whose heart is so close. He is so very near to you! Lean in, friend!