June 11, 2010
Casting Your Cares
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
Devotion:
God must have anticipated certain events in the lives of His children that would cause them to become "worry-warts." Even the most mature Christians today are quick to labor under the burden of anxious and excessive care. We worry over personal concerns, family woes, financial woes, cares of the past, and cares for the future.
The Apostle Peter saw this anxious care as a heavy burden and offered us some wise counsel for dealing with it. Peter's advice is to cast all our cares upon God. We are to throw the cares that distract us, wound our bodies and souls, and lay heavy on our hearts, upon the wise and gracious providence of God. You can do that because "he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) Isn't that awesome? You and I don't have to carry the burden of our worries. God is willing to release us from our cares, and take our concerns upon Himself.
That sounds great. I have no problem casting my cares upon God. At first, the weight is lifted. That is, until God doesn't respond to my need like I think He should. Then it becomes hard for me to not retrieve the burden.
After I lost my husband, I suffered with severe stomach pain. It was how my body dealt with the stress. I assumed by casting my situation on God and asking Him to carry the burden, my stomach troubles would go away. I also expected to not have the burden of going to counseling once a week and not paying that extra bill. But none of that ceased. I kept having stomach pain, which meant I still needed counseling for my grief. I had also hoped that the counselor would at least ease my debt, instead, she went up on her prices.
What was the point of giving my burden to God in the first place if he wasn't going to make it all go away? I wondered.
The point is this: when you and I cast our cares on God, we are acknowledging that it's His responsibility to care for us. We often forget that God is painting on a large canvas. He sees the big picture. We only see what's happening to us at the moment. That's why God allows events to come into our lives—good things and bad things; things that make sense and things that don't.
What you and I may think is harmful and destructive God can use for our good—to bring us to completion in godly conduct and character. He will allow nothing to happen to us that isn't first filtered through His screen of protection.
Ultimate harm would be if God left our character in the state that He found us in. During turbulent times, you and I have this promise, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4: 8, 9; NIV). God will not let our hardships destroy us. Though they may be tragic in and of themselves, He will use them for our good.
You and I can cast our worries on God because it's His responsibility to care for us. As we trust Him with the bigger picture of our lives, the weight is lifted and peace washes over our anxieties.
Dear Lord, When hard times come, I will not be afraid. I trust in Your loving care to provide for my family and me. Take my burden, Lord, and replace my worry with peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
This devotion was taken from Micca's Book, An Untroubled Heart
Cultivating Contentment message on CD, by Micca Campbell
Visit Micca Campbell's blog
Application Steps:
Acknowledge God as your Provider. Talk to Him about your burden and place it in His care. When doubt temps you to retrieve it, remember that God is in control; He loves you beyond measure and is working behind the scene on your behalf.
Reflections:
Why is it hard to let go of your burdens and trust them to God?
What is one way you can wait on God until He shows up with a solution?
Power Verses:
Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of god, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
© 2008 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.
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