So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16 ESV)
Dependence
Yes, independence is grand, but it is sometimes an illusion. Wile we might have great ability and opportunity to build houses, sculpt sculptures, run a business, harvest beetroots, broadcast on radio-waves, or attach band-aids on children’s knees, we are not independent in the most important thing of all.
The state of our eternal souls.
People do not have the ability to undo our sinful acts caused by our sinful hearts. Only God can. Only God does.
We are dependent on Him. And joyfully, gratefully, humbly, we relish the fact that He has had mercy and grace to save, all because of and all through Christ Jesus.
We are peculiar, we are dependent.