This podcast covers Lesson 2 of The God-Dependent Woman Bible Study.
Depending on God in the Pain of Relationships
According to 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 12 and 17, the opposite of dependent living is relying on worldly wisdom and making plans in a worldly manner.
Avoid worldly wisdom
“Worldly” refers to something that proceeds from the flesh rather than the Spirit. The flesh is that part of the human nature that is controlled by sin. Romans 8:5-8
- The flesh is at war with God. It doesn’t want to submit to God’s way of approaching life. It doesn’t want to please God nor can it do so. Worldly means humanistic—what humans determine to do in opposition to God.
- Wisdom refers to knowledge, intelligence and learning. That’s neutral. You can have godly wisdom or worldly wisdom. You recognize worldly wisdom through knowing what God’s way of approaching life is. You get that through studying the Bible and responding to the Holy Spirit’s teaching you from the inside.
- Worldly wisdom likes to use persuasive and haughty words to gain influence and control over someone who is “less learned.” Paul chose to write words that the Corinthians could read and understand. That’s transparency and godly wisdom. They could trust what he wrote them from a distance because they knew him.
- Like Paul, we must beware of using worldly wisdom in dealing with people or even teaching them about matters pertaining to God. Speaking truth from the Bible and using God-given logic is good. Compromising with their ideas in order to feel accepted is not.
Avoid making plans in a worldly manner
- Making plans in a worldly manner means to make promises that you can’t keep or won’t keep. It’s making promises just to pacify someone. It’s lying to them. It’s also being arrogant about having control of our lives.
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Instead, you ought to say, “’If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15)
- Whenever you need to make plans about things that will matter, follow this process:
- Align yourself with the purposes of God as described in His Word.
- Consider options that also align with the purposes of God.
- Ask God for direction and for Him to show you the best choice.
- Submit to God’s direction and be confident in that. That’s relying on Him.
- Hold them loosely and submit to any changes that God makes along the way.
- Here’s a key issue if God does change your plans. Stay focused on who you are and what God is doing in your life rather than being disappointed because things don’t go your way. God always follows through with the plans that He has for every believer. He is a trustworthy God. We can submit to His direction for our plans. We can be trustworthy representatives of our trustworthy God when we are relying on Him more than on ourselves. It’s a win/win.
Reconciling relationships in a godly manner
- People will get disappointed. Broken relationships do hurt. Paul longed to be reconciled to the Corinthians. Not being with them face-to-face and only hearing about their misunderstanding of Paul’s intentions caused him great distress and anguish of heart and many tears because he loved them so much. Yet, he continued to teach them truth and to demonstrate his love for them. He didn’t get all huffy and give up on them.
- When our feelings are hurt, we need to learn how to reconcile relationships in a godly manner. That also requires depending on the Lord to show us how and to give us the patience to do it right. And, God gives us comfort through the process.
Does depending on God mean that you’ll never be sad again?
True or False? “Depend only on God for your happiness, and you’ll never be sad again.” FALSE
- God doesn’t promise us the “good happenings” kind of happiness. He does promise us joy—having a deep inner gladness, regardless of the circumstances going on around you. have a feeling of gladness or pleasure deep down inside. Biblical joy is supernatural, is inseparable from the character of God, and comes only from a relationship with Him.
- Sadness is not a bad thing. Perfectly sinless Jesus was sad at times as He grieved over death and over Jerusalem’s rejection of him. He experienced human sadness by His own choice. Sadness over sin is a good thing. It leads to repentance and reconciliation of relationship. Sadness over broken relationships leads to doing everything to reconcile the relationship.
Reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves
- We get distracted and disappointed when things don’t go as we plan. (1:17)
- He is faithful to His promises to us. (1:20)
- He owns us and lives in us. (1:22)
- To reconcile relationships rightly when our feelings are hurt. (2:1-4)
- To execute tough love when a Christian is deliberately sinning. (2:5-10)
- To keep Satan from getting an advantage over us. (2:11)
Let Jesus satisfy your heart with confidence that you can depend on Him. Then, live each day as a God-dependent woman!
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