August 2009

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you.”
I Peter 5:6-7

Ah, the Night Watches.

The “What Ifs” continued to shake me awake.  Those that did not crowded into my heart’s bungalow and sat next to me, their very presence enough to effect the peace due after a long day. It was a busy night.

I tried my best to answer their questions… what to do, how to say, where to go… but the questions overran one another like a high tide. Still they came, my anxious thoughts would not let me rest.  The others, those pounding at the door and shaking me awake, would pry open my eyes for a few moments until I realized that it was just another Worry Child that demanded time… not an answer, just time to worry with them.

• A dear friend is facing a certain early death and “all he lacks” is a miracle.

• Young people are making the most important decisions of their lives but without the wisdom of age.

• People who I love are hurting with the pain of failures, and consequences must be walked through.

And me?  Without sounding haughty, Brother Paul comes to mind,
“Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.  Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble and I do not burn with indignation?”

These are the things that pound away at the door of my heart through the night.  What is it that pounds away at yours?

The world is filled with worry and always has been.  One generation looks to the other declaring “it was worse when I was your age” while the other sees it quite differently.   But I can tell you that it doesn’t matter what generation, culture, location or upbringing one experiences, worry is universal.  It is the product of  living in a world that teeters on the precipice of failure.  An earthquake is likely, but let’s just not talk about it.

The Bible has clear direction when the cares, concerns and worry of this world demands our attention and it is found in Peter’s words.  Yes, we are to “cast our cares” but first look at the who and the why.

We are to cast them at God… and the “why”?  Because He cares for you.   And until you know that He really cares, it is difficult to cast cares to Him.

He Cares for You
He cares for you, Christian!  He knows your struggle, He watches your step, He feels the stagger of your gait and willingly offers to bear your load.  The eye that watches the sparrow also watches you… He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  He is God and not man, the Holy One in your midst!  His still small voice will guide you.  His hand will be on you.  His cloud and fiery pillar will protect you.  His angels will surround you and His plan is for you and not against.

He bore your griefs,  He bore your sorrows, He bore your sins to the cross.  Where can you go from the very One who has searched for you?  Where can you hide from the eye who saw you unformed and the hand that knit you in your mother’s womb?  He is the One who loves you with an everlasting love, holds you in His hand and inscribes your name on His palm.

He is your Keeper, your Guard, the shade on your right hand… Deliverer, Counselor, Protector, Almighty God is He!  He brings Good News to the afflicted, binds the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners, comforts those who mourn, gives garlands and not ashes, the oil of gladness and not mourning, the mantle of praise, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel of peace.  He is the Everlasting, the Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His name is the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Living Water, The Vine, The Bread and the Lamb, the Resurrection and the Life.  He is the “I AM” in the “I AM HE.” He waits for the one who will forcibly throw the burden to Him.  He cares for you!

Yet, it is hard to embrace a Creator I have so offended.  I want to do it all, prove my worth.  I want to perform the tasks and present my offering and be found acceptable.  Yet still He waits for one who will throw the troubles and cares to Him because He cares for you!  He is able to bear all, be all, and care for all that you cannot.  Won’t you trust Him and take Him at His Word?

Spurgeon said, “There is no more blessed way of living then to live a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God.  We have no cares, for He cares for us; we have no troubles, because we cast our burdens upon the Lord.”

The time to start is now.  The burdens to throw are those you fearfully hoard.  And the Person to give them to is Jesus.  Trust Him, friend.  He cares for you.

Maranatha!

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