Living Life on Your Own

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

It’s two weeks into the new school year and I am already beginning to hear of students struggling with stress and anxiety.  The reasons vary, but for most it is the recognition there is much to be done and the time to do accomplish things is limited.  

As I have experienced in my own life and have observed in others, I think the main problem when we find ourselves overwhelmed often is a lack of humility.  We think we can handle all that is coming at us and so we try to do it on our own.  Inevitably, we come to the end of ourselves because we are finite beings with limited resources.  Life will overwhelm us because it is just too much for us to handle on our own, in spite of what our culture would have us believe.

And that is where the need for humility comes in.  It runs counter to our nature to admit we need help.  Like a small child, we say, “I can do it myself!”  And so we do, but not very well for very long.  Eventually, we reach the end—of ourselves.  And while helpful in teaching us humility, it is never a pretty sight.

The easier path would be to recognize our limitations long before we reach them.  I think that is what Peter has in mind here.  By surrendering our pride, we acknowledge our inability to handle life on our own.  By humbling ourselves, we enable the Lord to lift us up and carry us through the difficulties of life.  

Today, recognize your own limitations in dealing with life and allow the Lord to carry you.  The reality is you can’t do it by yourself.

© Jim Musser 2015