[Note: I have expanded an article for my church’s newsletter because I thought this issue/problem/status is one we all face.]
Feel a bit beaten down? Or maybe you think you have so much on your plate that you can’t add… one more thing. Perhaps you are so busy in your life that you’ve forgotten or left behind those other important things and people … and aren’t involved nor enjoying – living.? Familiar? So what are you doing about the cares? What are you willing to do to move beyond your current malaise?
Scripture invites us to “Cast our cares on the Lord…” – and is stated in both the Old and New Testaments: Psalm 55:22
“Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).” (AMP)
and 1 Peter 5:6-7.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” (AMP)
I do like the way the Amplified expands on the words to provide us with a deeper and fuller understanding. When identifying the cares, note that ‘all’ is indicated in every type of care – anxieties, worries, concerns. It also gives us the Lord’s motivation – He cares.
Casting cares is also phrased in different ways throughout scripture. The point being – we CAN cast our cares, primarily because He really does care for us. Why don’t we? Myriad of reasons which does not negate the invitation. It has nothing to do with the care nor that we deserve relief. It is totally based in His love for us.
Have you ever asked yourself what holding on to the cares gets you? What entices you to hold on to them rather than casting them. And don’t think that casting is simply getting you out of a difficult situation. I didn’t read that the Lord was ‘taking’ them from you, but I do remember a verse that says:
“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].” (1 Corinthians 10:13, AMP)
Cares come… fact of life. We have responsibilities… fact of life. This verse is talking about temptations and not cares… however, I think the principle applies. We also have One who is deeply concerned for/about/with us and everything associated with our lives. Never forget that He will always be our firm foundation to overcome. To cast or not to cast…
