Every Hour I Need You: 7 Meditations for Moms on the Character of God ਨਮੂਨਾ

God Is Self-Sufficient

When they’re young, our children depend on us. We feed, clothe, bathe, and house them. We cuddle and soothe, protect and encourage them. They look to us to meet their needs—when they’re thirsty, scared, tired, over-stimulated, or want to go somewhere.

Even more than our children depend on us, we depend on God. As our Creator and Sustainer, he makes our hearts beat and gives breath for our lungs; he enables us to work and provides food for us to eat (see Psalm 145:15–16). What’s more, our salvation and eternal security hinge completely on the saving work of his Son, Jesus.

But who does God depend on? No one. This is what it means to say that God is self-sufficient. He has everything he needs within himself. Jesus sums it up: “The Father has life in himself” (John 5:26), and he is the source of life for himself and for his children.

Our heavenly Father lacks nothing, and there’s nothing that anyone or anything can give him or do for him that adds to his enough-ness. Anything we offer God belongs to him already (Psalm 50:11), and he doesn’t need us to do good works to earn his favor or make sure his mission is accomplished. As Paul explains, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24–25, ESV).

Rather, the Lord invites us to serve and live for him as obedient children, as friends with insider information about their master’s work (see John 15:15–17). If we grasp this concept as moms, it will transform our experience of motherhood. God doesn’t need us (what a relief!), but he calls us to follow him. Because it honors him and is best for us, he tells us to obey him. As we obey,

We get to learn from our Lord and Savior.

We get to tell our children about him.

We get access to our heavenly Father and his help any time of the day.

We get to love, serve, nurture, and care for the little ones he has entrusted to us.

Instead of being a performance or mere duty, motherhood to the glory of God is a privilege.

Finally, while God is self-sufficient and doesn’t need us, we desperately need him and all he provides. In him alone, we find all we need for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3; see also Philippians 4:19)—including mom life. His grace never runs out, and it’s available all the time.

Reflection:

1. We depend on God, but he depends on no one. How does this truth encourage you?

2. What is your most pressing felt need today? Bring it to your heavenly Father, who knows what you need even before you ask (Matthew 6:32).