www.bible.com/reading-plans/42932/day/5

I don’t know about you, but I have a large streak of independence in me. I have been that way all my life, but especially after I was left alone in a new place while my husband was deployed with the military. I had to learn to navigate myself and the children to the places we needed to go, take care of repairs of cars and the apartment, discipline the children and generally manage everything alone. But I knew, even when I was feeling lonely, that God was with me. I leaned into Him for strength to keep going when I was pregnant and alone. I cried out to Him when I was afraid because there were a boatload of mice in our new apartment. I reached out to Him when we had needs that I just could not meet alone, like getting to the hospital and giving birth. God always met me right where I was, even though I continually declared my independence, God knew that I didn’t mean that I didn’t need Him…He knew I did and He always hovered nearby so that when I reached the end of my rope and couldn’t hang on anymore, He reached out and grasped my hand firmly in His and led me to a safe and quiet place. I learned through those experiences that Jesus is a dependable ally and I can rest in Him when all of the world around me seems to be chaotic and too demanding. I learned to give to Him my resentment about moving again and being left alone. He gave me the ability to forgive and to keep on being the best wife, mother and teacher I could be in each new place. My branch had to keep moving due to circumstances beyond my control, but I found out that the vine moved with me, already deeply rooted in my heart and life so that I knew just who to turn to when I was overwhelmed. God always provided a church family, new friends, a job and the one time I needed it a good neighbor willing to take me to the hospital in the middle of the night and stay with me there until I gave birth the next morning. God is good, and I am thankful to be a dependent branch.