Dependence

My baby is 2 months old and since his birth I have been determined to soak up all of his littleness before he decides to become "big" like my other two.

I have been blessed and overjoyed to witness all of his babyish ways.

Those baby arms.

That double chin.

Those chubby thighs.

The plump cheeks (both sets!).

His big eyes, ever exploring the world, ever following me around the room.

His sweet dependence on me.

His expectation that I will meet his needs.

Those big smiles and overwhelming joy, his delight in me.

All of this soaking up of his precious infancy has led me to greater insight, by God's grace, of my status before the Lord.

As Easton depends on me for nourishment, comfort, and love, so I must depend on the Lord for my spiritual nourishment, comfort and love.

So often, on my quest toward finishing this life well, with good intentions I slowly begin to depend on myself. When life leads me through trials, I begin to depend on myself to get through it. Often it isn't even conscious. If I think about it hard enough, I know that that I can't possibly get through it without the Lord. Other times, I have planned something in my head and I have a need to control it, regardless of the Lord's plan.

I think the Lord must look at me and see me as a toddler scurrying around (picture Beckett), saying things like, "I can't pay my bills!" or "How will I get all this housework done!?" He is so patient with us, waiting for us to slowly come around and realize that we must depend on Him.

As I looked at Easton staring up at me the other day, smiling his precious little face off, the Lord gave me great insight into the way that we can delight Him. He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. I was so delighted to see my son smiling at me, satisfied with his mommy and content to look upon me.

It reminded me of how often I fail to just sit and be content before the Lord, delighted in Him, in who He is. Often I read the Bible just seeking out application to my life, instead of first recognizing the character of the Lord in the pages that I read and praising God for the way that He reveals Himself to us through scripture. That is the way that true application takes place. A desire in my heart to serve the One who I owe everything to. My true gratitude for the Gospel and what it means in my life, soaking that up, is what leads to effective application of the way the Bible says I should live.

I hope this encourages you to rest in the Lord, no matter what you are going through.

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:2-3