HOPE & LIGHT

Recently, I’ve felt weighed down with burdens much of the time. The burden of poor health. The burden of continual pain. The burden of being home bound. And yet, I know where to turn when this happens.

JESUS is my burden bearer. He is my comfort in every trial. And this is what He wants to be for you too. His invitation is clear: Cast all your care on Me, because I care about you.

Two different Greek words are used for care in 1 Peter 5:7.

• The first, the care we are to cast on the Lord, refers to the anxieties and distractions of life that tend to drain our strength and steal our peace of mind. It is the care that Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes as “a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility.”
• The second word for care signifies that something (or someone) is the object of care. Merriam-Webster defines this type of care as “painstaking or watchful attention.” We as God’s beloved children are the objects of His watchful attention and care.

I know where to turn when the burdens become too heavy for me to bear. The Lord Jesus Christ is waiting with open arms, saying, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭HCSB).‬‬ So why do we sometimes fail to heed His call? I believe 1 Peter 5:6 gives us the answer. We often are unwilling to humble ourselves. The type of humbling that this verse speaks of means laying down our own agenda, submitting to God’s will and His timing. It also means acknowledging we lack the strength in ourselves to overcome the storms of life. We need God-given strength to be victorious.

The desire of my heart is to learn to come to the Lord without delay whenever troubles start. But to be honest, I’m not always there – and I suspect there are times when you aren’t there either.

Lord, make us willing to submit to Your plans and timing for our lives, even when we don’t understand what You’re doing. Remind us that the safest place we can be is sheltered in Your hands. There we are protected by Your l0ve, faithfulness, and peace. Help us to cast our care on You, in the confidence that You care about us.

 

As I was doing research for this article, I came across a song I’d never heard before. The lyrics fit this post so well, I decided to use them to close.

“Cast My Cares” by Finding Favour

When fear feels bigger than my faith
And struggles steal my breath away

When my back’s pressed up against the wall
With the weight of my worries stacked up tall
You’re strong enough to hold it all

I will cast my cares on You
You’re the anchor of my hope
The only one who’s in control
I will cast my cares on You
I’ll trade the troubles of this world
For Your peace inside my soul

This war’s not what I would’ve chosen
But You see the future no one knows yet

And there’s still good when I can’t
See the working of Your hands
You’re holding it all

I will cast my cares on You
You’re the anchor of my hope
The only one who’s in control
I will cast my cares on You
I’ll trade the troubles of this world
For Your peace inside my soul

Im finding there’s freedom
When I lay it all on Your shoulders

Cast my cares
I will
Cast my cares
I will
Cast my cares on You