Jesus Did What You Refuse To Do

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” -James 1:5

Let’s go deeper than behavior for a second. Because if we’re honest… This is not only about decision-making. It’s about authority.

The reason you struggle to ask God is not only because you forget. It’s not only because life gets busy. It’s not only because you feel unsure. At the core…  You struggle to ask because you want control.

• You want to decide.
• You want to lead.
• You want to determine the outcome.

And that runs deeper than a bad habit. That’s a heart issue. That’s what the Bible calls sin.
Not simply making mistakes. Not simply choosing poorly. But choosing self-rule over God’s rule.

That matters.

Because when you look at your life honestly…

• You start to see the pattern. You don’t only struggle to ask God.
• You resist depending on Him. You don’t only lack wisdom.
• You reject it. You don’t only get confused.

You put yourself in the place of authority.

That’s the real problem. And if that’s the problem… Then information will never fix it. You don’t need better strategies. You don’t need more tips. You don’t need a stronger decision-making process. You need something deeper. You need redemption. And this is where the gospel meets you right in the middle of this. Because where you have lived in independence… Jesus lived in perfect dependence.

Think about that. Every moment of His life… He was submitted to the Father. Not partially.
Completely. He didn’t move independently. He didn’t act on His own authority. He didn’t chase His own will. Over and over again, He says: “I do nothing on my own.” “I only do what the Father shows me.” “My food is to do His will.” That’s not weakness. That’s perfect obedience. That’s perfect wisdom. That’s what your life was created to look like. And if we’re honest… It’s the opposite of how we tend to live.

• Where we grasp for control… He surrendered.
• Where we trust ourselves… He trusted the Father.
• Where we resist… He obeyed.

And then… The One who lived in perfect dependence… Went to the cross for people who refuse to. That’s the part we can’t miss. Because Jesus didn’t only show you what dependence looks like. He paid for your independence.

• Every time you chose your way over God’s way…
• Every time you leaned on your own understanding…
• Every time you resisted what God made clear…

That wasn’t small. That was rebellion. And Jesus stepped into your place. The One who never rebelled… Was treated like He did. The One who never leaned on His own understanding… Was crushed as though He had. The One who perfectly obeyed…
Took the punishment for your refusal to.

That’s the cross. Not an example. Substitution. He stood in your place. He took your sin. He absorbed the weight of your independence. So that you could be brought back into what you were created for. Not self-rule. Dependence. That’s the shift. Because now… when you read James 1:5… You’re not reading it as someone trying to earn wisdom. You’re reading it as someone who has been brought into relationship with the God who gives it.

You don’t ask God to prove yourself. You ask God because you belong to Him. That changes everything. Because now the invitation is not: “Try harder to depend on God.” The invitation is: “Return to the One who already made a way for you to depend on Him.” And here’s where this gets personal. Some of you are still living like you are the authority in your life.

You believe in God. You may even believe in Jesus. But functionally… You’re still in control.

• You still decide what’s right.
• You still choose your direction.
• You still determine your path.

And today… That gets exposed. Because Jesus did not die so you could add Him to your life. He died to take over it.

That means surrender. Not partial. Not occasional. Full. And for others… You’ve trusted Christ. But you’ve drifted back into self-reliance. You know the truth. You’ve heard the Word.
But your life is not marked by dependence. It’s marked by routine. By assumption. By moving forward without asking. And this is a call to come back. Not to perform. Not to prove yourself. To depend again. Daily. Humbly. Honestly. Because the same grace that saved you… Is the same grace that invites you to depend on Him now.

So don’t read this and think: “I need to try harder.” Read this and see: “I need to come back.” Back to dependence. Back to surrender. Back to the One who already did what you could never do. Because wisdom is not something you earn. It’s something you receive…
From the One who gave everything to bring you back.

Reflection Question
Where are you still living as the authority in your life instead of surrendering fully to Christ?

Jesus didn’t only model dependence. He paid for your independence.

Prayer
Jesus, I see it clearly… I haven’t only struggled with wisdom, I’ve struggled with surrender. I’ve wanted control. I’ve wanted to lead my own life. And I see now that You didn’t come to improve my life… You came to take over it. Thank You for living in perfect obedience where I have not. Thank You for going to the cross in my place. Teach me to surrender fully. Not partially. Not when it’s convenient. Fully. I want to live in dependence on You. Amen.