Dependent - Top 10
- Bridget Joos
- Sep 27
- 3 min read
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6
Over the last couple of years, I’ve joined the “word of the year” trend. At the end of 2023, I participated in a workshop hosted by some of my therapist friends. It was all about organizing your calendar and setting intentions for the year ahead. I was in a new season of life, so I thought, why not? (insert skeptical smirk here).
Part of the workshop involved choosing a word for 2024. As I lay on my yoga mat listening to the calming sounds of the sound bowls (if you’ve never tried sound healing, I highly recommend it), I expected bold words like courage, brave, growth, adventure, or journey to pop into my mind. Honestly, I even tried to force one of those words to stick. But, in true Holy Spirit fashion, that’s not how it went.
The word momentum kept pressing on my heart. In true Bridget fashion, I dismissed it. But thankfully, I didn’t win that battle. When the session ended and we were asked to share, I admitted—hesitantly—that my word for 2024 would be momentum. Looking back now, I can only smile at how the Holy Spirit moves and speaks in ways we don’t expect.
That first year taught me something important: when God gives you a word, He means it. Throughout 2024, He consistently reminded me that momentum was from Him and that He wanted me to pay attention to how He was using it in my life.
So naturally, when it came time to choose a word for 2025, I braced myself for round two. But this time, there was no wrestling match. The word came loud and clear: DEPENDENT.
If you know me, you know that word is not in my vocabulary. Being an Independent woman is how I operate. I knew immediately that 2025 was destined to be an interesting year in my life and all I could do was wait in holy anticipation of how God was going to work His purpose and plan in my life. I went to the bible to find an anchor because with a word like dependent I was going to need it. Enter Proverbs 3:5-6.
These verses made it clear:
· Trust God with all my heart.
· Don’t rely on my own understanding.
· Bring God into everything I do.
· Trust that He will make my path straight.
Now, as 2025 nears its end, I can say with confidence that God has taught me powerful lessons through the word dependent. Here are my top 10:
10 Lessons from Living “Dependent”
1. God wants all of it. Dependence on Him isn’t selective—I don’t get to pick and choose the areas.
2. He doesn’t owe me explanations. Instead of formulas or reasons for the hard seasons, He gives peace that transcends understanding—and experiencing that peace is incredible.
3. His plans are better. When things don’t turn out the way I expected, His purpose always proves far greater than my imagination.
4. Faith over stress. When decisions feel impossible, remembering His faithfulness and goodness allows me to step forward without fear.
5. Back to the basics. In the chaos of life: trust God, pray continually, and root myself in His Word.
6. The Wonderful Counselor. When I feel like I can’t take another step, I grab my Bible, journal, tissues, and head to a quiet place for time with Him.
7. The Spirit intercedes. Even when I don’t know how or what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes—and I see God’s glory everywhere.
8. Closed doors mean closed. No amount of knocking (or kicking!) will open what He has closed.
9. God’s will brings provision. Where I am empty, He fills me. Where I feel unqualified, He sends help. Where I see impossible, He shows miracles.
10. His love calls me back. Even when I slip into independence, He gently reminds me of His love and His desire for me to depend fully on Him.
Reflecting on this list, I’m reminded again of the truth in Proverbs 3:5–6:
· Trust Him with all of it.
· Lean not on my own understanding.
· Acknowledge His sovereignty in everything.
· And believe that He will make the path exactly as it’s meant to be.
So well written and so well lived.