Needy

I am a needy person. 

Most people don't want to admit that about themselves, in fact, I don't really like admitting that about myself, but I am.  Even worse, some people fool themselves and say they are not needy, so therefore wouldn't need to own up to that fact about themselves.  Of course we do this...we live in a culture where we do not "need" anything from anyone. 

We can literally provide for ourselves (given that we have the proper resources)...

• We have stores very close to our homes, where we can buy all the food, clothes and anything we need and/or want.  Or we could just stay in our home and order what we need off the Internet and have it delivered to our home, how about that for service!
• We have restaurants to serve us
• Entertainment at our fingertips
• Theme parks (especially for us Orlando folks)
• Cell phones (most with Internet access these days)
• Social media (where we burn up hours of time looking at people's lives-most of whom we don't even talk to anymore or haven't talked to in a very long time, if ever)
• FILL IN THE BLANK!

You get my point, right?  With those mentioned above, and many more I've left out, no wonder it's so hard to admit we're needy.  So how do we get rid of this lie that we don't need anything or anybody?  How do we break through the thick layer of pride that saturates our lives and a culture that teaches us that independence is something to be proud of in ourselves? 

I don't have a clever new answer regarding this topic. What I do have is a very practical, yet still difficult answer~in Christ Alone is where we find hope for our neediness.  Practical answer in that it seems most people around us (maybe even ourselves at times) turn to God when they "need" something or want God to help them out...funny huh?  But difficult answer in the sense that, even in the midst of seeking out the Lord to fulfill all our needs, we fail to realize that our very pursuit of God proves us needy. 

So what's wrong with being needy?  Why is it so hard to admit that we are needy?  Quite honestly, I don't like admitting it, searching below the surface, I don't want to appear weak.  I don't want to be vulnerable.  Weak and vulnerable means I have the potential to be wounded.  I don't want to be wounded because it hurts.  It hurts because I put too much weight into what those around me think. 

I want to be in a place, where I am OK with being needy.  A place where I have complete assurance in my Savior, Jesus Christ, and not in the things or people of this world.  After all, today (Good Friday) is a day I choose to reflect on the horrific injustice (so it would appear to be) that took place at the Cross where Christ was crucified.  But it was God who unleashed his anger on his Son, Jesus.  So is God bad?  NO, He is Good!  VERY GOOD!  God knew that we, the very people He created, were/are needy, in need of a Savior from the sin that entangles us and chokes life out of us.  God found it fitting to offer a sacrifice (His Son, Jesus) to pay the penalty, absorb the wrath that should come our way, so that we who are in Christ can live this life to full abundance.  So that we can gain access to worshipping the Father in heaven for eternity!  I AM NEEDY and I am completely OK with admitting that!

If we're all honest with ourselves, we're all needy.  Most importantly, in need of a Savior of our lost & messed up souls, which is only found in Christ Jesus. 

So on a day, that I am saddened knowing that my sin was part of what caused the death of our savior, I see hope.  Hope, because as many people will gather to celebrate on Sunday, Christ rose from the grave and conquered death in order that we (His children) might be brought out of the pit of darkness, redeemed and made in right relationship with the Father in heaven.  My prayer is that my understanding of how much I really need God will deepen, to a point that I am undoubtedly convinced of how Good God is and find great joy in depending on and needing Him.