November 26

Cast All Your Cares

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 130:5-8 | Daniel 2:24-3:30 | 1 Peter 4:7-5:14 | Proverbs 28:15-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: I Peter 4:7-5:14

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter  4:6-10 NIV).

What do you do when life gets tough? How do you handle the curve balls thrown at you by life? 

Peter gives some good advice. First, from the place of humility look with expectation for God to lift you out of this pit when the time is right. Humbled by life’s experiences you may be tempted to despair. But the humbling is meant to get you looking up to the source of our hope. 

This leads us naturally to Peter’s next point: “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Recognizing that God loves and cares for you, what could be more natural than to cry out to God—to bring him all your cares and anxieties? 

It is also a reminder that we have an enemy that must be resisted. The same trial that God would turn around into a blessing, can be the source of frustration and temptation by your enemy, the Devil, who prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Don’t let it be you. Don’t give into discouragement. Don’t give into undue worry. Don’t despair. These are the tools of your enemy. Resist him and stand in firm in your faith. 

Peter gives us the wonderful promise that when the time is right, God “will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

You may be struggling now to see light at the end of the tunnel. Know that the God you serve is a God of hope. He hasn’t forgotten you. Look for his hand to rescue and strengthen you. Cast all your cares on the one who cares for you!

Heavenly Father, I humble myself before you and cast all my anxiety on you. Thank you for caring for me, protecting me. Enable me to be alert and to stand firm against all the plots of the evil one. Make me strong, firm and steadfast. Amen.