Cast It Off

 

Casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:7

One of the interesting things to observe in our mountains is the fishing that goes on. There are those primarily men who are very serious about their fishing. The are outfitted from head to food in their fishing attire that includes their waders. The gear they carry looks to be some of the best that can be purchased. Some just stand on the bank and throw their lines half-way in to our river. Some stand in the middle of the river and cast their lines with great bravado either up or downstream. They have become experts at casting their lines right where they want the lure to land in the water.

One year in our small church, the Vacation Bible School leaders decided to include the junior high kids in VBS that year. It was one of the best Bible Schools I can remember being a part of. We did much more in the way of Bible memory that summer. I'll never forget learning that verse from I Peter 5:7 but must admit that I didn't fully understand it. One leader said that it meant we were to give our problems to Jesus. Her assistant added that the word casting was stronger than just giving over our problems to Jesus. It was more like tossing them to Him.

As of late, I've come across some folks who are facing some very difficult situations, the kind of situations we want to jump in and take care of on our own. One person I know is facing some real financial difficulties. A parent is struggling with a child's serious health issues. There are about three ladies I know who also have some health issues they are facing. Some parents I know are trying to deal with a wayward teenager. A friend of mine has recently gone through a broken engagement. Those of you who read this could add to this list many times over.

Whatever problems I face, I'm not going to go down to our river with a fishing rod. Whatever casting I do is going to have to be within me...person to person with Jesus. So how do I suggest we do this:

C - Commit your burden to the Lord. As a child of God, He wants His children to feel such an intimacy with Him that we can turn any problem or care over to him, much like children go to their parents with problems. God has the power to do what we cannot.

A - Ask in prayer for His help. We will often turn to everyone but Him when we are facing problems. Philippians 4:6,7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and mindsthrough Christ Jesus.”

S - Search the Scriptures. We may not feel like getting into a deep Bible study when going through difficulties but we should have some emergency Scriptures in our arsenal of Bible verses both in the way of favorite chapters (often Psalms) or verses we have memorized. There is both physical and spiritual strength in the word of God.

T - Trust God. He really does care for us even more than we could ever care for our own children. Proverbs 3:5 admonishes us to: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” It's in the tough times we want to implement our own wisdom and know-how. We are to be as wise as possible in whatever decisions we have to make but trusting God with everything we are is the key.

In our society today, there has come to be a rather new term...”caregiver.” We read about them or even may know someone who falls into this kind of responsibility. If the day comes that I need a caregiver, it will be devastating for me. When I need a caregiver, it will mean that there is very little I can do for myself as I will be too ill or disabled to even do some of the least of things for myself. What a blessing caregivers are. Their job is not easy and entails a heavy responsibility and we are grateful for everyone of them be they parents, special nurses, etc. We're in a day when we know we need them. In it all though, I hope we can’t lose sight of our very best Caregiver. We don't have to have cancer, a broken leg, old age or incapacitated in come way. He is on duty 24/7 and extends care to us whether we are in danger, ill or healthy as can be. He's the best and we can't forget that.

We will have seasons of rest in our lives and it's during those times we can come along side of those who are going through some tough times of care. They need our spiritual support and love as we encourage them to take everything to THE One and only Who has the answer to every problem or care. When we feel that no one understands...no one cares...we must cling to the fact that Jesus, our personal Caregiver cares deeply about us and any problem or concern that comes our way.

Dear Jesus...I am thinking right now of some folks are dear to me who are going through some tough stuff right now. I wish I could spare them some way from what they are going through but I know that You are the only One who can reach deeply into their circumstances and fill them with Your peace and assurance. May they sense Your presence right now like never before. I love you....In Your Precious Name....Amen