We try to keep it all together. We try our best to keep it all in. We protect our children; we don’t want them to know the burdens that we carry. At times, we even protect our spouses; we don’t want to add to the weight of what they may be going through. And we don’t want to burden our friends. So, we begin to live in isolation…thinking that all we have is ourselves. But in reality, we are not alone.
Isolating ourselves from people can cause us to isolate ourselves from God.
When we isolate ourselves from others, we begin to live emotionally removed from them; we begin to put up walls. But the problem is that once walls are put up, they aren’t easily torn down. This becomes our way of life…this becomes a philosophy that we live by. It starts with us holding in our feelings around people, but it ends with us holding in our feelings when we’re in the presence of God. Although we have our reasons for protecting those around us, we must remember that we have a Protector ourselves. We have a God that wants to shelter us from the cares of this world.
…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]. (1 Peter 5:7 AMP)
I love this version of this scripture! Our God watches over us carefully. He cares so much for us, that according to His word, He makes sure that even our toughest trials work out for our good.
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMP)
But we must understand the part that we play in this, because God can only care for us when we allow Him to.
Have you ever tried to console someone that was pushing you away? Have you ever tried to be there for someone, to help them, but they wouldn’t allow you to? Now, imagine God in your place. Imagine Him trying to console you. Imagine Him trying to be there for you…because this is who He is…He is our Comforter…He is our peace. But the question is, have you been letting Him in? Have you been allowing Him to care for you?
Our God is so loving, that He will never force us to do anything. He will never force us to obey Him. He will never force us to love Him. He will never force us to let Him in. This is why scripture tell us that He stands at the door and knocks, but we have to let Him in. We have to do as 1 Peter 5 says. We have to cast all our cares upon Him—all our anxieties, all our worries, all our concerns. This is an exchange.
If we want our Father’s care, we must let Him in.
We must be willing to tear down the walls that we’ve built up inside. We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable to Him, through prayer. When we pray, we have an opportunity to tell God about everything, and we should. We should tell Him about our anxieties and worries. We should tell Him about our disappointments and let downs. He wants to hear about it all. He wants us to know that we can tell Him anything and everything. This is how we receive the peace that we need in this life.
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (Philippians 4:6-7 AMP)
Our heavenly Father wants to know when we are nervous about the future. He wants to know when we feel burnt out from life. He wants us to come to Him with our cares, and He wants us to ask Him for help. Scriptures says that this is how we receive the peace of God…the peace that reassures our hearts. This is the kind of peace that allows us to walk in joy, not because everything is perfect, but simply because we know that God is for us, and He is by our side. This is the kind of peace that I need. And I’m sure that this is the kind of peace that you need as well.
So, right now, I want you to take a moment to evaluate the level of peace that you have in your life. Are you able to walk in peace, regardless of what’s going on in your life? Or do you feel anxious because you’re worried about what tomorrow may bring? Honestly, I have lived on both ends of this spectrum. I have had seasons of walking in peace in spite of my life falling apart. And I have lived anxiously, wondering how everything would work out.
On so many occasions, I drove myself crazy over the “what ifs.” I’d think of all the things that could go wrong. I’d think of what would happen if an opportunity didn’t work out. But most of the time, those “what if” scenarios, never happened. In fact, each time, God sent His provision ahead of me. Each time, He made sure that the situation worked out for my good. So, what did I gain in all my worrying? What did holding on to my cares do for me? There’s a famous quote by a Dutch writer named Corrie Ten Boom, it says, “'Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” This is one of my favorite quotes. There have been so many times that I’ve allowed myself to be robbed of the strength that I could have had, because I worried about something that would never happen…something that God would take care of.
Worry robs us of receiving the care of God.
Our heavenly Father wants us to have strength now. He wants us to have peace and joy now. But when we worry, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to experience what God wants to impart in us in that moment.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:31-34 NLT)
God already knows everything we need. We might be surprised by what our children are going through, but He is not. We might be surprised by the sudden financial loss, but He is not. We might be surprised by the onset of sickness, but He is not.
We don’t need to spend our days thinking about what may happen. We don’t need to try to save ourselves from the future. Because the truth is that we have no idea what will happen, but He does. And we will not be able to save or sustain ourselves, but He can. He has already planned for everything that we need.
We need to receive the peace that He wants to give us today, and trust that He will provide what we need for tomorrow.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT)
Your heavenly Father has already gone before you. He has already seen what your tomorrow looks like, and He’s already provided for it. So, why worry? Why be afraid? What good will that do for your life? Your Father’s plan for you is so much greater, and He is here…right now. He’s waiting to lead you into a place of peace…a place of rest. Will you let Him? Will you cast all your cares upon Him? Will you let go of the anxiety, the worry, the concern? Will you give it to Him, so that He can take care of it? Make the decision today that you will receive what He has for you. You will receive His peace. You will receive His joy. You will receive His love. He wants to carry the burden for you…let Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have been so good to me. You have always been there for me; you have always made a way. Thank you for reminding me of this today. Thank you for reminding me that I don’t have to carry the weight of my life on my shoulders. Thank you for reminding me that you go before me. You are my provider. You are my protector. You are my guide. And today, I am choosing to trust in you. Today, I am choosing to give you my anxieties, my worries, and my concerns. And I believe that as I give my burdens to you, you are imparting your peace into me. I receive it Father. I receive your burden, which is light. I receive your rest. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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