In the Name of God: The Extremely and Eternally Loving and Caring

Independence.

This is what we are celebrating as a country on July 4: our independence from the British Empire in 1776. And it was good that we became independent from the Crown: we were able to chart our own destiny in history and make one of the greatest, if not the greatest, country the world has ever seen.

Along the same lines, if we can be independent from most people and things, it would be laudable. If we do not need other people or things for our livelihoods, our shelter, our sustenance, our stability, our happiness, and our inner peace, that would be amazing. It is likely what most people are trying to achieve in their lives: independence from everyone and everything.

Yet, there is One from Whom we cannot be independent, even if we think it to be so: the Lord our God.

We depend on God for the very air we breathe; the water we drink; the food we eat; and the life we live. We depend on God for the safety we enjoy, the love we get from those close to us, the happiness we enjoy with friends and family, and the smiles brought to our lives from every day situations.

I know there are plenty who don’t believe in God and disagree with my contention. I respect their stance and beliefs. But, as a believer in God, I truly believe in our utter dependence on God. And the sooner we accept this, the sooner we can avail ourselves of His Power and Grace.

God is so very close to us, as the Quran says:

And if My servants as you about Me, behold I am near: I respond to the call of the caller whenever he or she calls unto Me. Let them, then, respond to Me and believe in Me so that they might follow the right way (2: 186)

The Quran also says:

Now, verily, it is We who have created the human being, and We know what his innermost self whispers within him, and We are closer to him than his jugular vein (50:16).

Thus, it would behoove us to strengthen our bonds with Him and take advantage of a friendship that can never disappoint. The Lord has the dominion of the heavens and the earth in His hands, and thus it is common sense to me, as a believer, to avail myself of that dominion and seek whatever I need from Him directly.

And the most beautiful thing is, the more we ask of Him, the more He loves it. And the more we are grateful for His bounty, the more He will give us:

And [remember the time] when your Lord made [this promise] known: “If you are grateful [to Me], I shall most certainly give you more and more…” (14:7)

Yes, we are celebrating our independence on July 4, and one of the greatest things about America is her “fierce independence” and that of her people. And most time, true independence is laudable. But total dependence on God is neither a flaw nor a weakness. It is, rather, the greatest thing we can achieve in this worldly life.