I can be a little independent.

When my husband Madison and I were engaged to be married, our mothers and sisters were in town for a shower and we all went to Target. We walked through the doors together, then I headed to the area I wanted to go, but sauntering along behind me I heard my fiancé tell my Mom, “See, she does that. Just takes off on her own.” My mom said, “Yes, she’s independent that way. Get used to it.”

I’ve always been this way. It’s my nature. I didn’t get married until I was 30. I can eat at a restaurant alone. I can go to a social event without “and Guest”. I can put water in the oil reservoir of my car with the best of them. I’m used to doing things for myself.

Independence isn’t a bad thing, but it can be detrimental when you are riding a bicycle built for two!

Our lives are bicycles built for two. God should have one of those seats and guess what?   His is always the front one. I know we picture times in our lives when we have lived independently from God – us taking over the front seat and pushing God to the back, and think, “Shame on me for doing that to God.” Funny thing is, we have never had the front seat on that bicycle built for two. When we live our lives independently from God, we are always in that second seat, peddling as fast as we can, but unable to steer towards anything! We are not in control…even when we think we have successfully taken control!

If God is the Creator of you and of me, and if God is the Creator of this world, its laws and systems, then it makes sense to seek His wisdom for how to live our lives in this world. God knows how to steer our lives. He knows how to huff it up the mountains. He knows when the tire needs more air. He knows. I have struggled with this, been humbled and refined through this. Miss Independence has to learn how to let Him lead.

That’s what I am going to be writing about. Figuring out how to depend on God as a girl, a wife, a mom, a daughter, sister, friend.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6