Have you ever had someone tell you, “don’t worry” or “just cast your cares on the Lord”? It sounds so simple but how do you do that? Do you just go to God and say, “I cast my care on you!” and automatically everything is great? In the world today we have many opportunities to worry and fret and have anxiety, so what are we to do?
I love what God does in scripture. He tells us not to do something and then tells us what to do.
We see several places in scripture where we are told not to worry–it doesn’t just show up once. Take a look at Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-8 and 1 Peter 5:6-7. I want to look at the verses in Philippians and see where God said what not to do and what to do.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
This verse tells us not to worry or fret or be anxious about anything; then it tells us that we should, pray and talk to God and tell Him about the situation and make a request of Him. You might think, “He knows what is going on, why do I need to tell Him about it?”. In Matthew 6 Jesus is talking about how to pray and in verse 8 it tells us that God knows what we need before we ask. He does know, but He wants you to ask, He wants you to come to Him in faith, because Faith activates the power of God.
When we do come to Him in prayer and ask in faith, what happens?
Philippians 4:7
… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we talk to God about our situation, we need to ask Him about it specifically. What do we want Him to do (according to His Word)? This means we have to go to the scriptures and find what God has promised us already! We make our request based on what He has said. We go to Him and ask in faith, then the peace comes and He answers!
Now that we have peace, when those thoughts or feelings of anxiety try to come back, we have promises from the scripture that we can go to and focus on. We can do what verse 8 says:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
We were not designed to worry! God has made provision for us in every aspect of our lives. He knows how important things are to us and He doesn’t want us to just throw those issues up in the air and hope they are taken care of.
He tells us exactly what to do in the current situation the world is in today! We are to talk to Him and make a request in faith, thank Him for it and peace will come. If those thoughts and feelings of anxiety try to come back, you are to focus on the scriptures, and things that are true and just and pure in His Word.
God loves us and cares for us and He does not want His children anxious and afraid. He has made a way for us to come to Him and give Him our cares and worries. He is able to do abundantly above all we can ask or think! He is God, He is more than enough and when we come to Him in faith it activates the power of God in and for us!
Let’s cast our cares on the Lord today!
Michelle Grunewald