“Everything that a man leans upon but God—will be a dart which will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He who leans only upon Christ—lives the highest, choicest, safest and sweetest life.” - Thomas Brooks

As a Christian I would like to state that I am always leaning on Christ for everything.   I would like to say that. But unfortunately my human nature emerges and just like Paul Anka wrote “I did it my way.”  As this quote states though, everything we lean on that is NOT God will certainly pierce our heart.

I have found this to be true.

If we lean on our husbands/wives for security and protection, they will fail us.  If we rely on family, they will fail us.  If we rely on our church, our friends, our accomplishments, our pride, our good deeds, it will only lead to the piercing of your heart.

I learned my first lesson about relying on something other than God when I was first married.  I am a daddy’s girl and I have a very close relationship with my Dad.  I am fortunate enough to have a father who is blessed with wisdom and a calm spirit.  My marriage started rocky and when my life was out of control I sought Dad’s advice. I was leaning on my father’s wisdom to guide my life instead of my Heavenly Father’s wisdom.  This was a tough lesson for me to learn.

I still seek Dad’s advice and I will grieve greatly when it is not there one day, but God taught me early on that he is a jealous God and will remove whatever is in the way between He and I.  Maybe that is why I live in Florida and my family is in Arizona??? I don’t know, only God does.

I give that as only one example.  During my lifetime I have relied on friendships, instead of God.  I have relied on my husband for certain things instead of God.  I have relied on certain skills or accomplishments, only to find myself once again face down before God because what I was relying on once again failed me.  But God never fails (Psalms 136:1).

Maybe this is why the song “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” as been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

As Thomas Brooks stated, if you lean on Christ you will live the highest, choicest, safest and sweetest life.  Safe in the sense that nothing can separate you from the love of God ( Romans 8:35-39).

Thank God he is in the business of turning thorns into roses and growing closer to Christ is a journey.  I praise God he is there when I stumble and when I fail to lean fully on Him.  For I know when I finally arrive, I will be with Jesus.

What are you leaning on today?

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