I cast, He cares

This is a wonderful promise from God to us.  Most Christians are familiar with this verse.  But how many of us actually do it?

I confess that I am not always a great caster.  I cling, complain, doubt, and worry - but cast?  Not so much.

To cast our cares on Jesus means to leave them there.  So I can give my worries and cares to Jesus, but in the next 10 minutes, be worrying again!  Sound familiar?

So how do we not "go back" to our worries, doubts, and fears, both little and large?

Trust.

Do I really trust God to handle and alleviate my cares and worries?  I have felt His beautiful peace when I truly leave all my cares with Him.  So why do I go back to anxiety?  

Lack of trust.

Now I must tell you, realizing that I may not trust the Lord as much as I think I do hurts.  A lot.  I have built my adult life on placing my trust in the Lord.  So when I am still capable of distrusting, I get upset with myself.  I know better. I should be beyond that.

I believe this comes from not liking God's timing.  When we see our problems - ones that only God can resolve for us - go on and on without God's intervention, it takes a chink out of our trust armor.

"If He really cared for me"...we may think.  We know in our heads that God cares personally and intimately for us as if there were only one of us.  But the head knowledge needs to make it down deep into our hearts.

Jesus promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us.  I believe this with all my heart.  I know that He is ever near, always with me.

Yet I can still get anxious over stuff!  This is me out of alignment, is what it is.  

There is something about not worrying that makes us feel like we don't care - like if we don't worry about a problem in our lives we are being irresponsible. But worrying does not solve anything!

If we have done all we know to do and the problem still exists, then maybe Jesus is trying to teach us to be calm and trust Him anyway!  

Jesus never promised us a rose garden - at least not this side of heaven.  Quite the opposite.

"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus tells us straight out that we will have troubles in this life.  So what's a girl to do?

Cast!

And keep on casting!  Let's cast all of our cares, worries, and troubles on Him and leave them there until He sees fit to rectify them.  Or not.

I believe we can have and know His peace even if the storm never ends.  This is counter cultural because having peace without the aid of drugs or alcohol, the world just doesn't understand.  But it is for real!

Who wouldn't want peace instead of anxiety?!

Jesus offers His peace to us freely.  But we must receive it. And that involves letting go and trusting Him!

But what if I leave all of my cares with Him and my troubles still exist?  They are not my business any more!  Now, they are His.  And He is more than able to deal with them in much better ways than we ever could.  

Our part is to trust!  I know I sound like a broken record here, but this is a crucial underlying foundation in our lives as Christians.  We can't call ourselves Christians if we don't believe God!  Believing is trusting!  Trusting is believing!

If we're in the bad habit of worrying, then it may take some casting practice until the fears stop attacking us.  So let's just do it!  Let's cast all of our cares on Him and let Him care for us.  This sounds like heaven on earth to me.  Unfettered.  Free.  Trusting God.

Lord, please forgive me when I worry, doubt, and fear.  This is so not You!  And it is not who I am to be as Your child.  You are controlling everything, O God!  So why would I go on in strife when I can tap into that huge, calm, reservoir of You?!  Help me win this battle, Lord, as I choose to truly cast all of my cares on You.  Thank You, thank You, thank You for caring so beautifully for me.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.