WHEN GOD REMOVES OUR CRUTCHES: LEARNING TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON THE LIVING GOD By Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
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Introduction
One of the greatest spiritual lessons a believer can learn is the lesson of complete dependence upon God. Many people claim to believe in God, yet their lives often reveal that they rely far more on human strength, material resources, personal abilities, social networks, and worldly security than they do on the Living God. In moments of comfort and prosperity, it is easy to speak about faith. However, when life’s circumstances remove the familiar supports that people depend upon, the true depth of their faith becomes evident.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly brings His people into situations where their own strength is insufficient. In these moments, human solutions fail, and the only remaining option is to cry out to God for help. These experiences are not designed to destroy believers but to transform them. God allows such circumstances so that His people may learn that He alone is the ultimate source of life, provision, healing, guidance, and deliverance.
The imagery of “crutches” is a powerful metaphor for the many things people rely upon instead of God. Crutches represent substitutes for true healing. They symbolize the supports that people cling to in order to avoid confronting their deeper spiritual need for God’s transforming power. While crutches may temporarily help someone move forward despite weakness, they also prevent full restoration when individuals become overly dependent on them.
Spiritually speaking, many believers cling to emotional, intellectual, social, or religious crutches. These may include human approval, worldly pleasures, religious routines without genuine relationship with God, or reliance on human institutions instead of divine guidance. When these supports are removed, individuals often feel exposed, vulnerable, and desperate.
Yet in this very desperation lies the opportunity for genuine encounter with God. Desperate prayers often lead to the deepest experiences of divine intervention. When people recognize their inability to rescue themselves, they begin to cry out to God with sincerity, humility, and faith.
This lesson explores the spiritual process through which God draws His people away from reliance on temporary supports and teaches them to depend fully upon Him. It examines the nature of desperate prayer, the danger of superficial religion, the importance of personal communion with God, and the victorious life that emerges from complete trust in the Lord.
Ultimately, God’s purpose is not to leave His people weak or helpless. Instead, He desires to transform them into victorious individuals who walk in humility, obedience, and spiritual power. When believers learn to rely completely on Him, they discover that He is indeed the miracle-working, healing, and delivering God who guides His people through every circumstance.
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God Hears the Cry of the Desperate
“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” — Psalm 34:17
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One of the most comforting truths in Scripture is that God listens to the cries of those who call upon Him in genuine need. The Bible repeatedly assures believers that God is attentive to the prayers of those who approach Him with humility and faith.
Desperate prayer is different from routine religious speech. It arises from the depths of the human heart when individuals recognize their complete dependence upon God. In such moments, prayer becomes sincere, urgent, and deeply personal.
Many people initially approach God only when they face serious challenges. While it would be better for believers to maintain constant communion with God, even crisis-driven prayer can become the beginning of a genuine relationship with Him.
When individuals cry out to God with faith and trust, they begin to experience His presence in profound ways. He responds not merely with solutions to problems but with guidance, strength, and reassurance that He is actively involved in their lives.
Desperation, therefore, should not be viewed solely as a negative experience. Instead, it can become the doorway through which individuals encounter the living reality of God.
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The Spiritual Meaning of Crutches
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
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Crutches represent anything that substitutes for genuine dependence upon God. They may include financial security, social influence, religious reputation, personal talents, or even unhealthy emotional attachments.
While some forms of support are legitimate and necessary, problems arise when individuals begin to trust these supports more than they trust God. In such cases, crutches become spiritual obstacles that prevent believers from experiencing God’s full power in their lives.
Sometimes God allows these crutches to be removed. When this occurs, individuals often feel confused or abandoned. Yet the removal of crutches is often the beginning of spiritual healing.
When people can no longer rely on their familiar supports, they are forced to confront their true spiritual condition. In this vulnerable state, they have the opportunity to discover that God Himself is sufficient for every need.
The Apostle Paul learned this lesson when he experienced persistent weakness. Rather than removing Paul’s struggle entirely, God taught him that divine strength becomes most evident when human strength is insufficient.
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The Danger of Superficial Religion
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” — Matthew 15:8
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One of the most serious spiritual dangers is the presence of outward religion without inward transformation. Many individuals participate in religious activities while never truly opening their hearts to God.
They attend church, listen to sermons, and learn about biblical history, yet their personal relationship with God remains distant or nonexistent. Their faith becomes a routine rather than a living connection with the Creator.
Such superficial religion often coexists with worldly habits and attitudes. People may appear respectable within religious communities while privately indulging in sinful behaviors, selfish ambitions, or moral compromise.
God desires far more than outward appearances. He seeks truth within the depths of the human heart. Genuine faith involves personal honesty before God, willingness to repent of sin, and openness to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Without this inward reality, religious life becomes merely a performance that lacks spiritual power.
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The Secret Place of Communion with God
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1
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True spiritual strength develops through personal communion with God. The “secret place” represents the intimate relationship believers cultivate through prayer, worship, and reflection on God’s Word.
In this private fellowship, individuals learn to listen to God’s voice and align their hearts with His will. This relationship cannot be replaced by public religious activities or social gatherings.
Those who spend time in God’s presence begin to experience His guidance in everyday life. Even in difficult circumstances, they sense His direction and protection.
The imagery of hiding under the shadow of God’s wings conveys both security and intimacy. Just as a protective covering shields vulnerable creatures from danger, God’s presence provides safety and peace for those who trust in Him.
When believers cultivate this secret relationship with God, they gain spiritual insight that enables them to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
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Following the Example of Jesus Christ
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” — John 6:38
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Jesus Christ provides the perfect example of complete obedience to God. Throughout His earthly life, He consistently sought the Father’s will rather than pursuing personal ambitions.
Jesus understood His identity and mission. He knew that He had come to reveal God’s mercy, heal the broken, deliver the oppressed, and ultimately offer Himself as the sacrificial Lamb for humanity’s redemption.
Despite the immense suffering that awaited Him, Jesus did not retreat from His calling. Instead, He remained faithful to the divine purpose for which He had been sent.
His ministry demonstrated extraordinary compassion and supernatural power. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, opened the ears of the deaf, and raised the dead.
These miracles were not merely displays of power but expressions of God’s love and mercy for humanity.
Believers are called to follow this example of humility, obedience, and complete trust in God’s will.
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Living a Victorious Life in God
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” — Romans 8:37
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God never intended His people to live as victims of life’s circumstances. Through faith in Christ, believers are called to live victoriously.
Victory does not mean the absence of challenges. Instead, it means possessing the spiritual strength and divine guidance necessary to overcome them.
Those who trust in God learn to recognize His presence even in difficult situations. They begin to see how He protects them from unseen dangers and leads them away from traps set by spiritual opposition.
With growing faith, believers develop gratitude for God’s constant care. They realize that every day provides new evidence of His mercy, protection, and provision.
This victorious life emerges not from human effort but from humble dependence upon God.
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Summary
This lesson reveals the spiritual journey from dependence on worldly supports to complete reliance upon the Living God. Many people cling to “crutches” that provide temporary security but prevent them from experiencing true spiritual healing.
When God allows these supports to be removed, individuals may feel desperate and vulnerable. Yet this desperation often leads to sincere prayer and deeper relationship with God.
True faith involves moving beyond superficial religion into genuine communion with God in the secret place. As believers cultivate this relationship, they discover divine guidance, protection, and strength.
Through the example of Jesus Christ, believers learn the path of obedience, humility, and service. By following Him, they experience the victorious life God has prepared for them.
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Conclusion
God’s ultimate desire is not to leave His people weak or helpless but to lead them into a life of faith, courage, and spiritual victory. When believers place their complete trust in Him, they discover that He is always present as their source of life, light, and love.
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Call to Action
Every believer must examine their heart and ask whether they are relying on spiritual crutches or truly trusting God. The invitation remains open to draw near to Him in sincere prayer, humility, and faith.
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Final Word of Encouragement
No matter how difficult your circumstances may seem, remember that God hears the prayers of those who call upon Him. He is the miracle-working, healing, and delivering God who faithfully guides His people through every challenge.
When you trust in Him completely, you will discover that there is nothing beyond His power to accomplish.
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Salvation Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today recognizing my need for Your mercy and grace. I confess that I have often relied on my own strength instead of trusting in You.
I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son who came to save me from my sins. I believe that He died on the cross and rose again so that I may have eternal life.
Today I repent of my sins and surrender my life completely to You. Forgive me, cleanse my heart, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Teach me to trust You fully and to walk in obedience to Your will. Help me to live the victorious life You have prepared for me.
Lord Jesus, I receive You as my Savior and Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
