Everywhere I go I hear people talking about being "stressed out" over something. Work, school, relationships, kids, circumstances, finances, you name it, we're stressed out about something. Sometimes we get stressed over small issues. Sometimes we're stressed over big issues. Sometimes we're stressed over a combination of things whose culmination leads to not enough time to get it all done.
A counselor friend of mine once told me that the world would be a lot better place if we would put Celexa (a mood elevating drug) in the water supply. That might be an idea, but something tells me that wouldn't eliminate all the stress we experience in life.
Peter instructs us to cast all our anxiety/cares on God, because He cares for us. That too seems easier said than done. With unemployment still about 10%, the economy still in the tank, taxes going up, oil filling the gulf, war still raging, pressures building, casting my anxiety on God is a difficult thing to do. The "don't worry, be happy" Bobby McFerrin mentality is hard to come by. We're thinking, "God, you're stressing me out by not sticking your finger in the dike. Plug the hole in the economy, the oil leak in the gulf, MY checkbook."
Too be honest, I've been facing my own personal test of living this truth. In addition to what's been going on in our economy, I've been facing one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Earlier this spring, we discovered that our treasurer had embezzled multiple thousands of dollars from our church. He left us in debt and significantly overdrawn at our bank. The effect has been devastating to our church family. We lost the lease on our facility and have virtually been forced into closing.
The personal toll for me has been high, emotionally, spiritually and financially. No income, no church, no job, no clear vision of the future. Talk about anxiety. Bills continue. Vehicles need repairing. Mouths have to be fed, including mine. I find myself crying out, "OK God, I'm casting all my cares on you but can you hurry up and do something about this? And don't give me that stuff about those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. I'm drowning here."
Casting your cares on Him is easy to say and preach and tell others. But when you're in the throes of a crisis, it's dark and you can't find your way clear, casting your anxiety on Him is cry of desperation. We want, we need God to do something NOW because the strain is unbearable. It's hard to keep going when you feel that Job had it easy. It rattles our faith and we certainly find it hard to believe that God truly does care for us as the scripture asserts.
I know that I'm just a whining wimp. I haven't had to suffer anything as severe as many. My uncertainties and circumstances are nothing compared to the many martyrs of both scripture and history. Yet deep in my heart I long for that place of security, and value, and calm and relief from the pressure. I keep clinging to the promise that "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."(v.10)
God, I don't like being in a place of insecurity. It's hard to take the next step when you can't see where you're going. The stress is only building as each day brings with it more pressure, more uncertainty and the hole just seems to keep getting bigger. I'm casting my cares on you. Show me that you care. Show me that you are aware of my need, my pain, my desperation. Expand my faith. Renew my spirit. Make me aware of your presence. Give me hope. Resolve the issues that seem insurmountable. Restore me. Make me strong, firm and steadfast in YOU.
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