Happy Because We Depend On God
January 11, 2026
Many of us live as though everything depends on us: our strength, our effort, our ability to hold life together. Jesus begins His vision of happiness in a surprising place: not with confidence or control, but with recognizing our need for God. Explore with us why Jesus calls this posture “blessed,” and how letting go of self-sufficiency opens us to a deep and lasting joy.
READ
Matthew 5:1-3
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
REFLECT
1. Where in your life do you feel the pressure to “have it all together”?
2. What does depending on God look like for you right now, not in theory, but in daily life?
3. Where do we assume that success, strength, or control are signs of blessing, and who gets left out when we do?
RESPOND
1. Name one place where you are carrying more responsibility than God ever asked you to carry. Practice releasing it through prayer by simply telling God where you feel overwhelmed or insufficient, and asking for God's help rather than trying to manage it alone.
2. Choose one daily rhythm (morning prayer, Scripture reading, a moment of silence, or asking for help) that reminds you you are not self-sufficient. Keep it simple and honest. Dependence grows through small, repeated acts of trust.
3. Examine one assumption you carry about success or worth. Invite God to redefine your understanding of blessing in ways that honor dignity, interdependence, and justice.