Our Father...Sample

Dependent, Not Desperate

Is your dependence on God shaped by fear or trust?

When we pray, “Give us today our daily bread,” we’re reminded that prayer isn’t a last resort for desperate moments; it’s a daily rhythm of reliance. Dependence is a posture of peace, anchored in the confidence that God is our provider. It’s not driven by fear, but by trust in his faithfulness.

Psalm 23:1 (NIV) opens with a bold declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” It’s not written from a place of abundance but from trust in the Shepherd who knows exactly what is needed and when. David doesn’t say, “I have everything,” but rather, “I trust the one who leads me.”

God’s provision is rarely early, but never late. He gives grace for the day, not the month. When the Israelites gathered manna in the wilderness, they had to trust that fresh provision would come with the sunrise. In doing so, they learned not just to rely on the gift, but on the Giver.

When we feel uncertain, our instinct can be to grasp for control. But dependence on God is not passive. It’s active trust. It’s coming back to him each day, not out of desperation, but confidence. It’s acknowledging that God sees, knows, and cares for every detail, even when the outcome isn’t yet visible.

What might shift if you believed God was already moving to provide?

Prayer:
God, I confess the ways I’ve equated dependence with weakness. Teach me to rely on you, not out of fear, but from faith. You are the Shepherd who provides what I need when I need it. Help me rest in that truth today.