leaning into the Holy Spirit

“You have to lean into the Holy Spirit. You have to unwrap the gift of the Cross. You have to unwrap the gift of closeness -- of the Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Counselor. You have to learn to lean in as your honor and not your shame.” -Melissa Helser

This quote is from my favorite podcast. In this particular episode, the speaker mentions the importance of dependency upon the Holy Spirit. She says, “The world says that you want to mature into independence. That is the opposite in the Kingdom. In the Kingdom, you mature in dependency.⁣ It is our honor, not our shame, to be dependent.” ⁣

I don't know about y'all, but up until about two years ago, I somehow missed the life lesson that dependency was a good thing. 

I strived to be as independent as possible. 

I worked hard to make sure I never had to ask for help.

I was never really vulnerable because I didn't need to show emotion. 

I even found myself giving into perfectionism so I wouldn't be a problem in the workplace or other places where I gave my time. 

I learned to always be “ON"

…even with God.

Do you know why? 

Because that's what independence does.

It sets a standard.

Independence teaches us that we don't have room for error. 

We don't have room for insecurities, bad days, or bad moments.

We always have to read our Bible.

We always have to be nice.

And maybe, at the root of it all, independence is covering something that most people may believe about themselves:

They're unloveable. 

They're too much. 

They're a burden.

They don't matter.

They're not important enough.

God is not trustworthy.

Independence teaches us compartmentalization, but the Word teaches us that the only way that we fully experience the Holy Spirit and abundant life is by leaning into Him and giving our whole lives to Him.

"In the Kingdom, you mature in dependency.⁣ It is our honor, not our shame, to be dependent [upon the Holy Spirit]."

What does it mean that dependency is our honor, not our shame?

“But He [the Lord] answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness,” (2 Corinthians 12:9a, TPT).

It means embracing the whole of who we are and not compartmentalizing our lives. We won’t embrace our good, but condemn the things we hate about ourselves. We’ll give grace to the whole of who we are while allowing the Holy Spirit to change the harder parts of us.

Contrary to our belief, it's actually the moments where we're weak, feel rejected, lonely, angry, sad, and the like, that we see more of the Holy Spirit. We don't need to be perfect. We need to be human. It's in our weakness that we're made strong. 

We don't have to manufacture strength. The Holy Spirit has enough to give to us.

“There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love,” (1 John 4:18, MSG)

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected,” 1 John 4:16b-17a

It's love that casts out fear, and we are perfected in love by abiding in (and leaning into) the Holy Spirit. 

 Be encouraged, friend! Dependency is a good thing.

 If you find yourself in a moment where you're struggling with shame instead of honor in dependency, take a moment to pray these prayers over yourself,  

“Dear God, please set my heart at rest in Your presence when my heart wants to condemn me. For You, God, are greater than my heart, and You know everything." (1 John 3:19-20)

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your love, O Lord, supported me! When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul!” (Psalm 94:18-19)

“You, O Lord, love me with an everlasting love; You have drawn me with loving-kindness. You will build me up again and I will be rebuilt. I will take up my tambourine and go out to dance with the joyful.” (Jeremiah 31:3-4)