The blog
Freedom In Dependence
JEFFREY KENT
If there is a single virtue that rises above others in our world today, it is perhaps independence. We celebrate milestones of independence as our children step out into the world, proving their ability to be self-sufficient. At the same time, we bemoan those who continue to rely on others beyond what we deem an appropriate age.
Independence is the anthem of our culture. Success is often measured by how self-made someone is, by their ability to influence those around them rather than depending on them. We’re all taught to stand on our own two feet and to build our futures with our own hands.
But here’s the thing—while independence certainly has its place in our communities and society, those same principles don’t apply in the body of Christ. The great paradox of our spiritual lives is that true freedom isn’t found in chasing self-reliance. It’s only revealed when we embrace our dependence on Christ.
INDEPENDENCE IS MORE OF A MYTH THAN A MILESTONE
Let’s be honest – while independence has its allure, it often leaves us more stressed than satisfied. We feel the pressure to manage every aspect of our lives, keep up appearances, and stay on top of everything that comes up along the way. The problem is, it doesn’t take long before that pressure turns into exhaustion. We chase all these goals we’ve set for ourselves, only to realize we never quite hit what we’re striving for.
Jesus offers us a radically different way. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). There’s such freedom in those words. He’s not calling us to figure life out on our own. He’s inviting us into a life of dependence—dependence on His strength, His provision, and His love. And the beauty of it is the more we depend on Him, the freer we become.
In my devotional Satisfied, I explore this very truth of finding freedom through our dependence in Christ. Satisfied invites readers to lay down the pressures of performance, to quiet the voices of self-indulgence, and step into a 21-day journey of intimate communion with Christ through prayer and fasting.
THE CHURCH’S STRUGGLE WITH DEPENDENCE
The Church has never been immune to the trap of independence. From the very beginning, even the disciples often leaned on their own abilities and ideas for the future over trusting Jesus. They quarreled over who was the greatest, they panicked in times of trial, and they questioned Jesus’ path to the Cross.
Our struggles aren’t so different. We convince ourselves that we can follow Christ while continuing to look to our own capabilities for guidance. Before long, faith starts to feel like a checklist – attend services, read the Bible, serve occasionally. We create spiritual growth plans that fit into our schedules and personal preferences. But, when we reduce our relationship with Christ to a list of tasks, we miss the heart of what it means to live in dependence on Him. We wonder why, in the end, we feel more exhausted than close to Christ.
The truth is, faith isn’t about controlling the process – it’s about complete surrender of who we are to the person of Christ. It’s about rekindling a hunger for God, not for what He can do for us, but for who He is. Consider the last time you truly hungered for more of His presence. In a world filled with distractions, our spiritual appetites can easily fade. But as the psalmist says, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:2).
Dependence Leads to Freedom
Spiritual dependence isn’t a weakness – it’s a strength. When we depend on Christ, we’re free to let go of the need to control every detail of our lives. And when we do, we experience the kind of freedom that comes from knowing God is leading us better than we could ever lead ourselves.
This is where fasting comes into play. Yes, I know that, for many, fasting feels like another spiritual chore. And we can certainly make it that way. However, fasting is so much more than making ourselves miserable by seeing how long we can force down veggies for every meal or avoid our morning cup of coffee. It’s a way of reminding ourselves that as much as we need physical sustenance, we need God more. It’s about creating space for God in a world that constantly competes for our attention.
Richard Foster captured this in Celebration of Discipline: “Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. It is a means of God’s blessing that should not be neglected.” Fasting has deep spiritual significance that goes far beyond simply skipping a few meals. It creates room for God to move, to bring clarity, and to renew our dependence on Him in powerful ways.
Let’s Lead Others to Dependence
If believers are going to find freedom in dependence on Christ, the church must not only teach it, but also model it. We must help people recognize that faith is not about checking boxes we can control. It’s about a lifelong journey of denying ourselves and chasing after Jesus.
Fasting isn’t just for our growth individually – it’s a tool for corporate breakthrough, as well. It’s mentioned 77 times in Scripture and was often practiced by leaders like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and, of course, Jesus. Fasting is a way to consecrate ourselves as a community and declare to the Lord that our satisfaction is ultimately in Him.
One of the most powerful ways to lead your church body into deeper dependence is through setting times of corporate fasting. When the entire church dedicates itself to prayer and fasting, something shifts. As a community, we declare that our devotion to God is greater than our desire for comfort, that the Spirit within us, indeed, has the power to subdue our flesh.
Jeffrey Kent is the COO of Commander Companies. Along with overseeing the organization, he is an ordained pastor and has served in ministry for over 25 years, including 3 years on the mission field in China. Jeffrey also oversees a Christian youth camp in Northeast Louisiana called Camp Ch-Yo-Ca. In 2021, he published the devotional Satisfied, and in 2024, published GO: A Simple Guide to Sharing the Gospel.