How is God relevant to this?
We took over a year to process Desperate Dependency with our small group of forty singles. Together we waded through deep waters of much hurt and pain as we struggled to find Christ relevant to daily living and a myriad of crises. As we looked through the magnifying glass of each other’s lives, we continuously asked, “How is God relevant to this area of life?” “How will God receive glory from this issue?” “How will He be central instead of me being central?”
The constant struggle is to die to our desires so that we might glorify God instead. Joel acknowledged the constant dilemma: “I’ve got life and all my issues, and I magnify that.” But the ultimate happiness in our lives is for God to get glory through our lives.
Okay, Jesus, how are You going to make a difference?
Do we trust God to redeem us from the evil that has touched our lives? Kauri noted that desperate dependency is not just about lying on the floor helpless in the fetal position, saying, “I can’t do this.” But going past that, saying, “No matter how difficult this is I want God to be glorified through my life.” “Yay, God!” God can be glorified no matter what! If one is born blind, God can be glorified (John 9:1–3). Even if we have chosen sin, God can still be glorified in our lives. We must be motivated to see how Christ is relevant to every situation. “Okay, Jesus, how are You going to make a difference here?”
We also challenged each other to not forget Christ is relevant in the joys and successes. If we do not see Christ as relevant in the good times, we will become prideful and self-sufficient and move back toward independence. Dependency is the only option for authentic Christian living.
Striving to find Christ relevant
No one in our small group, including Kirk and me, would say we have successfully arrived at the destination of desperate dependency and finding Christ relevant to every area of life. But we have grown in our awareness of His working in our lives to bring us to godliness, and we are striving to allow Christ’s redemptive process to function in our lives instead of self’s redemptive process.
I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
Philippians 1:20–26 NLT
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT
Excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis.
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