Mark 10:13-16 (ESV)

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

 

​Children are very good at depending upon their parents. You might say they were born to be helpless. Without parents to feed, cloth, shelter, and protect them they would surely perish. Thus, children learn to seek help with everything they do. A child will readily admit to needing help with daily tasks. Even after they clearly know how to do something on their own they will often continue to ask for the parents help. For children it is healthy and quite necessary to depend upon their parents for help with their everyday needs and tasks.

 

​As we grow from childhood into adulthood we naturally depend upon our parents for less and less, until ultimately we do not need them at all for daily survival. As adults we tend to slowly migrate to this same attitude with God. Jesus tells us this is exactly opposite of what God desires in our relationship with Him. Jesus teaches us that we need to come to God like a child. We need to increase our dependence on our Father God, not decrease it. We need to admit and acknowledge that we cannot do anything well without God’s help and blessing. Prayer is our primary way to ask God for help; it is our primary way to acknowledge our dependence upon Him. Day by day He waits for us to ask Him to get us through this broken life.

 

Luke 12:22-34 (ESV):

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Jesus implores the disciples to rely upon God. The anxiety that they feel is due to their self-reliance. The answer to stress is to depend more on God. Is it surprising that as we grow older and practice more independence we also show increasing levels of stress? God wants us to depend on Him like a child. The primary way we acknowledge and declare our dependence on God is through prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV):

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

​It is an unfortunate part of this imperfect world that parents age and eventually can no longer help their children in the way they would like to. As a parent, I can testify that in times of trouble you always want to be there to help pick your child up, to comfort them, to provide for them, no matter how old they are. This is just not possible for earthly parents, but it is entirely possible with God. God promises, as our Heavenly Father, that he will always be there. He will always be there to help us through anything this world throws at us.

 

Study and Reflection Questions:

1. Share about the different challenges in your life growing up (child to teen years) and how God provided for you (through your parents, grandparents, or relatives).

2. Why do you think Jesus highlighted food, body, and clothing in Luke 12:22-23?

3. To what extent are you experiencing anxiety? (Or what about a past experience of anxiety?)

4. How can prayer help us to deal with anxiety? Pray for your anxious thoughts (or someone that you know) right now. Don’t wait. Bring yourself (or this person) before the Lord.

5. Why does Jesus tell us to seek his kingdom instead of the being concerned with what we eat or drink?

6. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Why do you think “dependence on God” in prayer brings us peace?  

7. How can a prayer of dependence (showing our weakness and need) help us to deepen our intimacy with God? Today, bring your prayer of dependence before God trusting Him to provide for your needs.