Self-Reliance vs. God’s Guidance: What the Daffodil Teaches Us

Are you self-reliant or do you look to God for guidance?

Do you ever take one last glance in the mirror to make sure every hair is in place, your shirt collar isn’t askew, and food isn’t stuck between your teeth? Some problems are easily corrected. Sure, we all use mirrors to fix our image. And we all imagine solutions to our problems. But have you ever stared at your reflection and wondered why you can’t solve the real problems? What happens when none of our fixes correct the messes? Some may advise us to look within for the answers. However, what happens when our troubles outweigh our efforts? Do we rely on self-reliance or God’s guidance?

A Story About Flowers

In the spring, 27,000 varieties of daffodils bloom throughout the world. From Angel Face to Martinette to Zypani, there’s a daffodil variety for nearly every letter in the alphabet.

Considered a gardener’s favorite, the yellow flowers cast brilliance among the winter’s dull browns. All these 27,000 species hail from the scientific group of flowers called narcissus. Common nicknames for daffodils are jonquil or narcissus.

Have you heard the legend of Narcissus?

A Story About the Narcissus

There’s a Greek myth about the narcissus. In the ancient story, a young man falls in love with his reflection in the water and can’t pull himself away from his beauty. As a result, he stares at himself for so long that he dies. Legend has it he then turned into a flower known as narcissus.

What’s wrong with self-reliance?

The cautionary tale emphasizes excessive self-love and lack of connection to others. But in our culture, self-reliance is a virtue. Our culture considers people who don’t rely on their own efforts to advance against difficulties as weak. But this myth tells us that connection to others is the antidote to death. While self-reliance is often praised, our connection with God leads us to ultimate guidance.

Is there a Balance between Self-reliance and God’s Guidance? 

From the Christian point of view, we are to turn to God for guidance and answers. God provides us with physical, emotional, and mental strength to work. We don’t sit around waiting for answers. God doesn’t expect us to be passive. A Christian moves forward, combatting problems, and working toward solutions.

One example of this balance between action and faith is found in the story of Moses, in Exodus.

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.” Exodus 4:2-5 NIV

Did Moses choose self-reliance or God’s guidance?

God’s direction taught Moses trust and obedience. God didn’t change the snake into a staff while it was on the ground. He asked for Moses’s action. First, Moses listened. Then, he obeyed. This shows that God expects us to act within His will. There’s nothing wrong with self-reliance. As Christians, we first take our difficult situations to Him in prayer. After that, we listen for His guidance.

Finally, Spring is Here

Each spring, when the daffodils bloom, I think about the wonders of God’s creation. His care for us. As I watch the buds bloom and the baby green leaves open, I’m convinced God is real. He is the God who created 27,000 varieties of one flower.

We are to rely on God just as the daffodil depends on nature through each season until it blooms again. After the flowers wilt and the leaves die back, underground, the bulb grows and produces smaller bulbs. During winter, the dormant bulbs require a period of rest. Then, when spring arrives, the cycle repeats.

How about you? Do the new buds remind you of His care for us? All of nature reminds me of His presence, most especially after winter.

Ultimately, Can We Truly Find the Answers Within Ourselves?

God’s desire is for us to choose Him—an almighty eternal father with infinite wisdom—to guide us. Or would you rather look within and trust first in self-reliance? There is only one who is capable of guiding us through the troubles life doles out.

Are you in a winter period of your life? Look upward. Pray. Respond to God’s guidance. Be patient during the dormant periods. Trust God.

And—go pick a daffodil! And as you admire it’s beauty, remember—just as God cares for the flowers, He cares for you.

Spring never fails to arrive every year and God never fails. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

What do you choose? Self-reliance or God’s guidance?

Dear God,

If someone reading this doesn’t believe in you, show them who you are and guide them to belief in you. You are the only one who offers hope. Someone’s wintered heart needs to see what real life is—new life in you. Jesus, save those who don’t believe. Amen