Our society exalts the idea of independence, and there’s even a major holiday celebrating it. Being independent sounds good on the surface, but we must be careful what—or who—we’re trying to free ourselves from. We’ve been created to depend on God and put our trust in Him. If we’re to call ourselves believers, we need a biblical understanding of what this means and how to apply it.
Trusting in God
When we talk about faith in God, we’re not talking about some religious cliché or churchy phrase. Faith isn’t just positive thinking or trying to convince ourselves that something good will happen if we “work hard enough.” Abraham, an Old-Testament believer, was strong in faith because he was fully persuaded that God would do exactly what He promised (Romans 4:21). The correct definition of faith is complete dependence on God, not on our own strength, wisdom, or resources.
The world has trained us to lean on our own understanding, but God calls us to something radically different. “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Taking this seriously means our everyday lives should be rooted in trusting Him. To walk by faith is to walk depending on God, not on what we know or what we can figure out. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We’re to refuse to let our intellect or circumstances lead us instead of God.
Yielding to the Master
Faith is a decision to completely yield our lives to God. Paul told the believers in Rome to yield themselves to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). The word “instrument” is significant; a piano can’t play itself but depends on a musician’s hands. In the same way, our lives are only significant when we’re yielded to the Master’s touch.
This lifestyle of dependence doesn’t happen by accident. God’s grace has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and live righteously in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). His favor doesn’t just save us but also trains us to depend fully on Him. We can’t produce godliness by sheer willpower; it comes as we learn to lean on Him daily.
Prayer and Thanksgiving
Prayer becomes vital because it demonstrates our trust. We’re told to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn’t mean we stay on our knees twenty-four hours a day, but that we maintain a constant attitude of reliance on God. Every time we pray, we acknowledge, “Lord, I can’t do this without You, but I trust You completely.”
The same attitude carries into thanksgiving. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Prayer expresses dependence when we have a need; thanksgiving expresses dependence after the need is met. Thanking God for what He’s done is our way of declaring, “Lord, I know this blessing didn’t come from me, but from You.”
Faith for Everyday Living
Living by faith keeps us free from the power of sin. “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). This lifestyle calls for total submission to God, which breaks the power of sin’s control. The only way sin can dominate us is when we rely on ourselves instead of on God.
Our faith must rest in God’s faithfulness. He’s faithful to lead, faithful to provide, faithful to deliver, and faithful to fulfill every promise. When Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children, they had nothing to depend on except God’s Word, which was enough. We need this kind of faith today, when the world’s systems are shaky and uncertain.
This trust shows up in practical decisions. Instead of rushing ahead with our own plans, we pause and ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” We don’t settle for just “good ideas” but wait for “God ideas.” Yielding ourselves to Him lets Him play our lives like an instrument, guiding us into the deeper things He has prepared for us.
A Relationship with God
When the world says faith is about desperation, we know it’s about relationship. We pray not because we’re panicking, but because we trust Him. Whether it’s five minutes while driving to work or a quiet hour before bed, prayer simply affirms our dependence on our Father. The more we pray and give thanks, the more our hearts stay anchored in God rather than in fear or self-effort.
Grace and faith are partners that work together. “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace…” (Romans 4:16). Grace is God’s unearned, unlimited provision for every need, and it’s His part. Faith is choosing to rely completely on Him instead of trying to earn what has already been freely given; this is our part. When we understand that, we stop adding human effort to something God has already perfected.
The Choice to Trust God
A life of faith isn’t complicated, but it is intentional. Every day we choose to say, “Lord, I depend on You.” When needs arise, we pray; when blessings come, we give thanks; and when challenges hit, we remember that His grace is sufficient, and our job is simply to believe.
True faith doesn’t just show up on Sundays; it’s a way of life. It governs how we handle our careers, our relationships, our finances, our health, and even our thought lives. It keeps us steady when the world is shaking because we’re anchored to the one who never changes. As we practice this dependence, we discover real peace, real provision, and real victory.
Be Examples of Godly Faith
So, are we living by faith? Are we truly depending on God, or are we leaning on ourselves until we run out of options? Faith should be our first response, not our last resort. Let’s make up our minds today to yield completely, pray continually, give thanks consistently, and trust God boldly.
The world is looking at us; it should see people who are unshaken, not because we’re strong, but because our God is faithful. Like Abraham, we can be fully persuaded that what He promised, He’ll perform. This is pleasing to Him. When things look bleak, this kind of faith changes everything.
