I hope that you all had an enjoyable Independence Day. We celebrate being an independent country. Where we have freedoms that other countries don’t. This all came at the cost of many young men and women’s lives. I am grateful that I live in America. To worship as I please, to do many things as I please, in the confines of the law. Yet, it came at a price.

I used to get a kick out of Hermey in the Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer movie. He always stated, “I’m Independent”.

As a child of God, do I really want to claim that I’m independent? Yes, we like doing our own thing, being unique, making our way in this world, but is that the way?

God orchestrates every detail of our lives. We find comfort in this. However, when things don’t go as we would like, what then? Do we exercise our independence and rely on ourselves? Do we blame God for” not holding up His part of the bargain”? (How dare we) Do we disregard Romans 8:28? 

We often read this verse and claim that all things will work out good for us and overlook the remaining part of the verse. “those called according to His purpose”. HIS purpose, not our purpose. 

I am often like a little kid, wanting my own way. Settling for things that are not the best, because I don’t have adequate vision. It’s all about me, me,me.  Our God has a purpose for everything He does. He gives us glimpses into His purposes but many things, He wants us to take by faith. Knowing that He loves us, despite what we can see. Trusting in His loving hand to guide us through those things that are difficult and those that bring us joy. Knowing that it isn’t about me, it’s something much, much bigger. Yet, God loves us – you and me,  He’s asking us to join Him in His journey to greater things. We are just a tiny piece of His plan but He treats us as if we are the biggest part.

Hermey also asked Rudolph if he’d like to be independent together.

So, maybe that is the way to look at being independent. Independent together – independent from the world. Joining God and being intertwined in His story and not my own. For our independence from this world and freedom from sin came at an extremely high price. 

I have been really paying attention to the second part of the “Serenity Prayer”

“Living one day at a time,enjoying one moment at a time”

” Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.””

Taking, as he did, the sinful world as it is,”

  “not as I would have it.””

Trusting that he will make all things right
if I surrender to His will;”

 God does use our hardships as a pathway to peace as we come to Him–the author and finisher of our faith.

For this, I am grateful. Will you join me in being independent from this world and dependent on our Heavenly Father?