The Danger Of Independence

By Joni and Friends|Published On: September 27, 2019|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Close up of an evergreen tree branch with snow on it.

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and it’s National Rehabilitation Week.

That may mean something to you if you have suffered a debilitating injury, or if you’ve gone through a hip or knee surgery or slugged your way through physical therapy and rehab. It means a lot to me as I look back on my years of rehabilitation – both my physical and occupational therapists wanted me to be as independent as possible. They worked hard – they worked me hard – so I could learn to feed myself; push my wheelchair a little bit, at least; even draw holding pencils between my teeth. There wasn’t much I could do as a quadriplegic, but those things I could do? I did them with a go-get-‘em attitude. And when I was released from almost a year of rehab, I was determined to be independent. I did not want anyone’s help, thank you very much.

Now, that may be an admirable attitude when you’re new to a wheelchair and learning to do as many things as you can for yourself. It’s important to be independent in that respect. But to be honest, the Bible warns us about spiritual independence. Having a proud, full, independent mindset can get you into trouble. My friend, Paul David Tripp, has something to say about this. He says, “Independence is what the serpent sold Adam and Eve, and independence is the reward that the enemy continues to wave in front of each one of us every day. At some time, and in some way, we will all buy into the delusion of independence. The lie of independence is designed to make me believe that I’m wiser and more righteous than I am. It makes me think I’m a mature person living in the colony of the immature. It causes me to reason that if I do bad things, I do them not because of what’s inside of me, but because of the pressures I’m forced to deal with that are outside me.”

Wow, what true words. Paul Tripp is so right. Because we all like to think that we really are wiser and more righteous than we really are. Living independently from the Word of God creates this false illusion that we are mature, when really, we’re anything but! We are not capable; we are not okay. Because left to ourselves, even if we are Christians, we become enslaved. We become addicted to a list of things that we look to for hope and strength, life and rest. But all those things – hope, strength, life, and rest – can only come from a dependent, obedient relationship with God.

And I guess this is where you and I really need rehabilitation. Because you and I are people in desperate need of help. And even though I have known the Lord Jesus for many decades, I am still dependent on Him. I am still the child – a lowly, weak, needy child of God. And it’s why I’m grateful for this wheelchair. Every day my disability reminds me how dependent I am, especially on the Lord. And every time I start to feel a little independent? Like, I’ve got this Christian thing figured out; like I know the lay of the land; I know what God expects of me, so I just move forward into life under my own steam? Every time I have that independent mindset, I fail miserably. And a deep loneliness comes over me and I go running back to Jesus.

So, when it comes to your deepest spiritual needs, don’t run after the delusion of independence. Rehabilitate your thinking when it comes to doing everything on your own. Run to the Lord Jesus on whom your dependence rests. For hope, life, strength, and rest can only be found in Him! And hey, if you need more inspiration, you just have to go to my blog today at joniandfriends.org. Again, that’s my blog at joniandfriends.org.