Cares to Him Who Cares Best

Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares about you. – (1 Peter 5:7, HCSB)

Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, ERV)

Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, TPT)

Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries. – (1 Peter 5:7, VOICE)

This is far easier to say than it is to actually do. For me, it is an ongoing process that requires daily practice. I begin each day giving all to God, yet as new challenges and trials arise, I often find myself trying to carry them alone. It is not intentional, but rather is a habit of independence that seems to propel me to trudge forward with weight I am not meant to bear, stacked heavily upon my heart. Thankfully, the older I get, the more quickly I realize that I have allowed the worries to weigh me down and turn to God and give Him what was never meant to be mine to hold. He is tender and kind, and lovingly bears the weight that was never meant for us in the first place. In His loving kindness, He never rushes in and grabs things from us, but patiently and lovingly waits for us to turn to Him for help. His capable strong hands hold us up and have already bore the burdens that arise. May we ever seek our Savior and give our stress and worries to Him, for He will carry the weight and comfort and care for us well.

Cast every care,

On Jesus, our King;

For He is the One,

Who can bear all things.

The weight of the world,

He already bore;

Heaped upon the cross,

They are ours no more.

Yet it’s up to us,

To give Him all things;

And trust in His love,

As goodness He brings.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to cast our cares and worries upon You, for You already bore every weight upon Your shoulders on the cross. There is nothing new under the sun that You have not carried. Thank You that You exchange Your love and grace for our burdens that we hand over to You. Forgive us for our feeble attempts to carry what is not ours to bear. Teach us to hand our struggles and worries over to You, for You are faithful to meet us and uphold us and carry the weight in our place. Show us how to love one another well, so that we may come alongside those who are heavy-laden, and point the way to Your love and light that exchanges the weight for goodness and peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we come before You each time we find our cares weighing us down so that we may place them in Your strong hands that lovingly lift us up and lead us forward. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. – Psalm 94:19

Recorded Reminders Bring His Holy Hope

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. – (Romans 15:4, NIV)

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. – (Romans 15:4, ERV)

You see, everything written in the days of old was recorded to give us instructions for living. We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living. – (Romans 15:4, VOICE)

 

Scriptures show us the repeated faithfulness of God over time. The more one invests time to discover the truth of God’s word, the more encouragement is found to persevere with patient hope, as that which comes in the end, is well worth the wait. There is nothing new under the sun. Every difficulty, trial, and pain that we face, has been endured before. Though the struggles of those in the past may not look exactly like the things we endure, there are so many similarities, that we can witness the ongoing faithfulness of God, as each inspires us to continue to hope in Him. Recording His faithfulness in writing has always been a way to encourage and inspire those who follow and face something similar. May we look to the Lord and His Holy Word, to remind us of His faithfulness and the hope that is held in His holy hands.

 

All that is written,

In God’s Holy Word;

Inspires, brings hope,

To all who have heard.

For the truth of God,

Brings life, love and light;

Hope in the darkness,

Reminders to fight.

Fight through the heartache,

The struggles and fear;

Proof of His true love,

To all who draw near.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift that is recorded in Your Word. Thank You that no matter what we go through, we can turn to You and trust in Your Word to remind us of who You are and how You love. Forgive us for the times that we have sought answers, help and hope elsewhere. Teach us to turn to You first in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us through their trials, and to record and recall the countless examples of faithfulness You have made known in our own lives. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we invest time in Your Word so that we may more deeply come to know who You are and how You love; for hope is forever held in the truth. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3