Stepping Stones: Leaning Is Powerful

Transformational Thought

A few years back I found myself in a very bad and difficult place. My world was crumbling around me. God brought two mature Christian men into my life, one new friend and one old, and they taught me how to lean on them. I was able to prop myself up with the strength God gave me through them in my time of extreme weakness.

Maturing Christians, those growing in their relationship with the Father, gradually mature in their ability to lean. Leaning is not something that comes easily to many of us, especially guys. Our stubborn independence causes us to view leaning as a sign of weakness. However, the Bible makes it clear that leaning is one of the marks of a real Christian.

In our growing up years, we started to learn to lean, but we made an almost fatal mistake. We leaned on the wrong support. We leaned on a fellow 9 yo, or another teenager, or a parent that didn’t give our leaning the serious attention it needed, or on a job, a college, a sport, a drug, sex, food, a “you fill in the blank.” When we got hurt, let down or ignored we learned, “I can’t lean on any one else but myself for my needs to really be met.”

So breaking that pattern and willing to be vulnerable again, growing Christians lean away from the conventional wisdom of self-reliance and learn to lean on God and trust in His wisdom and goodness. As we begin to lean on God instead of ourselves, we soon realize that His way is always the best way. Christians lean into God's divine purpose. As Christians, our greatest desire should be to accomplish God's purpose in our lives, as this is what truly glorifies Him.

Christians also lean on each other. Independence is not always admirable. However, interdependence is a biblical principle that carries the idea of mutually healthy dependence. Christians understand the value of community … engage in it … and contribute to it. This is what the term “Christian Fellowship” is all about. Showing God to each other and helping each other grow to become more Christ-like.

Today, identify an area of your life where you are leaning on the wrong support. Why? Is it really supporting you now, and for the long run? Analyze what is keeping you from leaning on God. Begin leaning on God. Be willing to accept help from other people that God has placed into your life. Stop carrying the "I can do it myself" mentality to an extreme. Your decision, choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, Thank You for placing people in my life, safe people that I can lean on. I pray, Father, that You will help me to listen to Your voice in everything I do. Teach me to accept help from You and from other people You send to me. I pray that pride won't get in my way and I'll be willing to ask for help, and more importantly follow Godly wisdom as I get it. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One who depended on You, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God!
Proverbs 3:5-7