As children, we rely on our parents for everything. Without a second thought on our part, there was food on the table and clothes in the closet. We never wondered how we were getting to school or who would tuck us in at night. Mom and Dad took care of it all. They knew what was best for us.

As we got older, we started doing more on our own. We didn’t ask for help with math homework. We got a job and paid for our own lunch. Relying on parents seemed less necessary. We knew they’d always be there, but independence was looming larger. We didn’t ask for their advice as much as we used to, and we became more comfortable making our own decisions.

Think back to when you first learned to rely on God. From the beginning, it was an untainted faith. When you were sick, you prayed, knowing God would heal you. When you learned to drive, you prayed for safety knowing without a doubt He would protect you. For things Mom and Dad didn’t have control over, you learned to ask God. He always came through. 

Do we still rely on Him today the way we did then?

As we get older, it seems natural to stop relying on God the way we stopped relying on our parents. With every milestone in our lives, we gain experience and independence. We start making big decisions on our own without asking God if it’s the right move. 

But He knows what is best! Isaiah 55 states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

Why are we burdening ourselves with decisions that seem impossible to make? God has the answers. Why do we worry about which path is the right path to take? He knows the way.

As an adult, it’s not always easy to rely on someone other than ourselves. To many people, relying on someone else means you’re relinquishing control. You have to trust that person to make the right decision or to complete a task successfully, and it doesn’t always go the way you want. God’s answers aren’t always what we want either, but His thoughts are higher than ours. He might reveal His plans in unexpected ways, but His ways are higher than ours. We can’t let those unwanted and unexpected answers keep us from relying on Him. 

From the youngest to the oldest, God will always see us as His children. He knows we have tough questions. Ask Him for answers with childlike faith, fully relying on His wisdom and guidance. He loves a good chat before tucking you in at night.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.