Who’s Leading?
It’s okay to be the weaker one when you have someone of strength leading. There’s safety and security to be found when we rest in someone else’s strength. Are you comfortable with the strength of others? Do you have someone that you trust to lead you? During worship recently, I heard Father’s Spirit whispering, saying that He wants me to become comfortable with trusting in His strength.
A Practical Example
I pondered it and thought of the example I have with my husband. I’m married to a strong man. He’s naturally a take-charge kind of guy. My friends sometimes even tease me about John saying, “It’s time for bed!” Although I usually appreciate him leading, sometimes I choose to rebel, just to exert my independence. If I’m standing alone merely for the sake of asserting my freedom, it causes unnecessary distance between us and takes me outside of his wisdom and protection.
The truth is, John’s heart is for me and he leads me and our family from a place of love. I know deep-down that he doesn’t want to lessen my identity or value. Yet, even knowing these truths, there are times when I still fight his leadership. Why does my flesh demand its own way, even when it’s not good for me?
Mine is a simple example, but when it comes to our relationship with the Father, the same concept applies. Sometimes we don’t follow His direction, in order to maintain our sense of independence. We may even question Papa God’s motives, thinking that He just wants us to conform to His rules without reason. That’s the far-away dominating figure that our enemy would like us to see of God. But that’s not His character.
He shows us in scripture that He is creative, compassionate, and faithful, and He fervently desires a close relationship with us. If we could believe it and trust that He doesn’t want to erase our identity in our surrender, but desires to protect and direct us, then we could become comfortable in His care. We could trust Him to lead, always.
One Worthy of Trust
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established, it shall never be moved. Psalm 93:1 ESV
The One who is stronger than I, stronger than both male and female, is God our Father. Yet, because of a lack of trust, we can become independent, feeling as though we have only ourselves to rely on. But that is not the truth. This type of thinking moves us away from knowing God’s heart. The farther away we move, the less we hear His truth and know His love.
We say we trust God, but do we? Imagine what our lives would look like if we were really comfortable with relying on His strength. To be comfortable is to be in a state of rest – like sitting on a couch! When we are comfortable with Papa God’s strength we know that His hands are strong, yet careful. We are free from fear and filled with trust, knowing we can count on Him. He wants us to know Him in this way.
He loves us most and pursues us with a love song, drawing us to Himself. The moment we open our hearts to Him and say yes to trusting in Him instead of ourselves, He’s already there, proving Himself faithful! There’s beauty and freedom in following our Father’s leading, in complete, comfortable trust. Don’t you want to experience this kind of trust?
Saying Yes
It’s one thing to say we trust God. It’s another thing entirely to put our hand in His and rest, even dance, as we follow where He leads. He is the only one who will never let us down.
When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? Psalms 91:9-10 TPT
We must allow ourselves to be hidden in our Father and resist separating ourselves from Him in independence. He protects us there. Our identity flourishes there. And no matter what comes against us, we know that all is being worked towards our growth and our good.
Paul beautifully explains the treasure we find as we surrender within our weaknesses to Papa’s strength…
But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you,and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.
So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 TPT
Papa God is a good, strong Father and He’s overjoyed when we look to Him as our loving dad. We can trust Him and follow His lead, knowing that His every motive for us is love. I pray that we embrace these truths so we can enjoy the security, freedom, and delight found in becoming comfortable with Papa God’s strength!
