Capable

My first sentence as a child was, “I do it myself.” From the earliest years of my life, being fiercely independent has been part of my identity. It is a trait that is continually reinforced by our individualistic culture. I believed any problem could be solved with willpower and a self-help book. Over time, I have come to see that my aversion to asking for help and my tendency to strive to do things on my own stems from a lie. It’s a lie that says people and maybe even Jesus will think less of me if I ask for help, a lie that says that if I am not capable on my own, I am a failure.

God’s word in scripture, however, has shown me that we are not created to rely only on ourselves. Jesus said that he is the vine and we are the branches; that if a branch is not attached to the vine, it shrivels up and dies. When we strive to do everything on our own, we often fall short and end up frustrated and exhausted. Jesus invites us to keep company with him so that we can find the rest we need to live freely (see Matt. 11:28-30). When we stay close to Jesus, his strength lightens our burdens and enables us to flourish.