I have lived most of my life like a makeshift and broken energizer bunny. With a schedule often overflowing with obligations and commitments, I can run myself ragged from trying to do “all the things.”
This past Christmas, I led a new musical dinner theatre program at our school. The show was a joyous and fun night for parents and students alike — but I was so exhausted I could hardly enjoy the event. For three weeks, I did nothing but live and breathe our Christmas program. I planned, shopped for food, held practices, and created games and programs. But there was one major problem — I overestimated my ability and underestimated my need for help.
About an hour before the show started, volunteers began dropping off food for the evening. A parent approached me in the kitchen as I was scurrying around, trying to finish last-minute details. This sweet woman jumped right in and began filling up cups without having to be asked. While we were working, she asked how she could help whoever was running point in the kitchen before the show started. I froze — I hadn’t thought about this. Our event had so many moving parts that tasks were piling up and I was dropping balls left and right. One major character flaw of mine is that I hate asking others for help out of fear that I’m inconveniencing them and their busy lives. I often misjudge my ability, and this was just another instance of how my fear of man problem was kicking me in the tail. After muttering an incoherent sentence, she looked at me, sighed, and said, “Jessica, I wish you would have asked me to help. I could have spared you from some unneeded stress so you could enjoy tonight.”
That evening reminded me that even though I often view myself as self-reliant and able to do it all, nothing could be further from the truth. My humanity screams my dependence. I need sleep, food, water, and a host of other things to be able to function. I need companionship, community, and accountability to be able to flourish. To be human is to be needy. And my neediness and limitations remind me of my place as God’s creation.
But God is not like us. There is no need for an extra cup of coffee, a quick cat nap, or food to satisfy a growling stomach. He in Himself is self-sufficient and in need of nothing.
Acts 17: 24-25 says,
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
God is the only true creator, provider, and sustainer. He hung the galaxies in the sky; He created flowers and trees with just the sound of His voice. He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into his lungs. He does all of this Himself. Nothing or no one offers him aid or assistance. But we are a needful creation. Without Him, we would not be — but He is not dependent upon us.
Modern-day theology and worship music often paint a picture of God that is needful of man’s companionship. That somehow there is a void or gap that we as creation can only fill. But this shallow concept is not reality. God did not create or save us because he needs our friendship, love, or worship. Complete and eternal sufficiency has always been found in the Trinity. The Trinity exists in perfect harmony with one another. There is no need for worship or adoration from another — The Godhead is whole.
Although we are made in the image of God, we’re not created to be self-reliant. God has designed us as creation to be recipients of his faithful provision. He finds joy in providing for his children! But how often do we fight this truth? We battle for independence, striving to create a self-made kingdom where we can rule and reign. We attempt to construct a person who “has it all together” — a person who excels in school or their job, has countless friends, a beautiful family, and fruitful hobbies. We become so distracted in juggling all of life’s responsibilities that we forget our place as God’s creation. Our gaze turns inward instead of focusing on the Supremacy and Self-Sufficiency of Christ, our King.
In the person of Jesus, we see the God-man who displayed perfect dependence on the Father. His Divinity doesn’t negate from the fact that He was fully human. He needed food, rest, and shelter just like we do. He relied on God for provision. Even in the moments of trial and suffering, He remained dependent and trusted God. And through the perfect work and person of Christ, God has fulfilled our greatest need — our need for a Savior to put an end to sin and death forever; He has reconciled us back to God (Eph. 2:13)
God’s self-sufficiency reminds us that He created and loves us not because He has to or because there is something innately good about us — God created and loves us because He chooses to do so. (1 John 4:10) He is the one who remains faithful to His people, even though we fail Him daily. We can rest knowing that the world is not depending on our performance or lack thereof. God is the one who is upholding the world (Heb. 1:13), working all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28), and who will continue to sanctify us until we go home to glory (Phil. 1:6).
Friend, if you’re struggling with juggling all life has thrown at you, please know you’re not alone. Run to Christ! There you will find peace and rest with the God who supplies every need through His Son (Phil. 4:19). Let your neediness draw you to His side, for He is the God who is forever faithful.
Jessica is a wife, mom, teacher, and sometimes writer. Most days you can find her chasing her toddler, Eleanor around the house or teaching music at Cornerstone Classical Christian Academy. God has given Jessica a great love for writing how the Gospel transforms all areas of our lives — especially marriage and motherhood. She prays your heart will be encouraged here with the truth of God’s word. You can find more of Jessica’s writing on her blog here.