The last two mornings, I was reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness in the rising sun. He painted the sky in brilliant color and vivid expression. The vibrancy was soothing to my brittle spirit and acted as a warm gesture of God’s goodness. I didn’t know how much I needed Him in these moments, but He did. His kindness on display drew the word “reliance” to my mind and the fact that I often rely on things that inevitably let me down. Why do we have the tendency to rely on things that are temporary to satisfy our need for stability?

I can’t rely on affirmation from others because it will lead to an unhealthy dependence on being recognized.

I can’t rely on how I look and what I wear because my body is breaking down as I age.

I can’t rely on success at work because pride is always waiting to attack.

I can’t rely on people because they are carrying burdens of their own and will inevitably let me down.

I can’t rely on things to numb a situation because the pain is waiting for the agent to wear off and will return tenfold.

I can’t rely on knowledge because I am limited in memory, experience, and abilities.

I can’t rely on my strength because I am not able to carry the weight of heaviness in this world.

But I can rely on the One who can carry it all. The One who will never let me down. The One who has never left me. The One who is never far off. The One who can be sought and found anytime, anywhere. The One who never gets tired of me. The One who gently corrects my wrong thinking. The One who is always waiting for me to reach out to Him. The One who created me and is sanctifying me day by day.

The sun always rises. It always casts away the darkness of night. For all the things in this world that are chasing me down and seeking to swallow me up, my Savior is walking before and beside me to tend my wounds along the way. As sure as the rising and setting of the sun, He is worth the reliance. He is worth it all.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4