Dependence and Trust

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” (Psalm 16:1)

God is completely independent of every created being. He is the blessed and sole authority, Who does not need anyone in order to be happy, and Who does not have to give account to anyone (see 1 Tim. 6:15). We human beings, on the other hand, are creatures dependent on God, whether we want to admit it or not.

How does someone live who is aware that he needs God’s help every day? He prays! Prayer is practical dependence. But not only that: prayer also expresses trust. We pray because we believe that God hears us and responds to prayer with wisdom. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

The Lord Jesus is God and Man in one Person—a wonder that we can’t understand, but which we can admire in worship. He commanded the violent storm and it was stilled; the troubled sea and the raging waves obeyed Him, so that suddenly there was a “great calm” (Mark 4:39).

The Son of God spoke a word and people were instantly healed from their sicknesses. He caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. Lepers were instantly cleansed and even death was removed when He raised people from the grave (see John 11:43). He said “I am” and ranks of His enemies fell to the ground. Even the demons trembled and obeyed His commanding voice. With only five loaves and two fish He fed 5000 men, plus women and children!

The same person looked up humbly to heaven and prayed: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge” (Ps. 16:1). Every day He lived in the awareness that He needed God’s protection. Through prayer He rested in the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91:1-2).

The fact that Jesus’ prayer life was characterized by trust becomes clear in many places: At the tomb of Lazarus He lifted up His eyes and prayed, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me” (John 11:41- 42). At the time of His arrest, He was absolutely certain that God would place twelve legions of angels at His disposal that very instant, if He would only ask Him (see Mt. 26:53).

Even in Gethsemane, where He lay on His face in agonizing prayer, He believed that everything was possible for His Father (Mark 14:36). With unshakable confidence, He prayed in expectation of His resurrection, “My flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life” (Ps. 16:9-11).

We honor God when we trust Him, for in so doing we show Him and others that we consider Him trustworthy. This is one of the reasons why God rejoices when we pray. It honors Him when we trust Him with great things and then ask for them in prayer for His glory!

The Lord Jesus once asked an important question of two blind men who in prayer begged Him for mercy, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Mt. 9:28). Sometimes it is good to ask yourself this question when you start praying for something. The prayer of faith has a wonderful promise: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24).

J.P.S.