Letting God Take Care of Our Cares
1 Peter 5:6-7
Does anyone here this morning consider themselves prone to worry? Do you sometimes dwell on what might happen if _____________? Well, you’re not alone. I tend to worry about the most inconsequential things ever. Like what will people think? What if this happens, or what if that happens.
But chronic worry is killing us. Chronic worrying can affect our daily life so much so that it interferes with our appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep, and job performance. Many people who worry excessively are so anxiety-ridden that they seek relief in harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating, eating junk food, cigarette smoking, or using alcohol and drugs.
Chronic worrying and emotional stress can trigger a host of health problems. The problem occurs when our fight or flight mechanism is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. The fight or flight response causes the body’s sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as cortisol. These hormones can boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides (blood fats) that can be used by the body for fuel.
But when the excessive fuel in the blood isn’t used for physical activities, the chronic anxiety and over abundance of stress hormones can have serious physical consequences, including:
• suppression of the immune system
• digestive disorders
• muscle tension
• short-term memory loss
• premature coronary artery disease
• heart attack
In severe cases when excessive worrying and high anxiety go untreated, they can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts.
So you can see the high cost of worry. Worry is a responsibility God never intended us to have. But the good news is that He offers us a wonderful exchange. We see that in 1 Peter 5:6-7.
God’s people had been scattered because of much persecution and Peter writes this letter to help encourage the Christians scattered throughout Asia to grow better instead of growing bitter.
In a letter written to Christians suffering persecution, it is interesting that Peter encourages them to submission. Not retaliation. Not rousing rallies to lobby for protection and equal treatment as a protected minority. But plain Jesus-like submission. The journey to glory and greatness begins with a submissive posture and attitude. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”
Does Jesus care about our pain? When we’ve been hurt, disappointed, we sometimes wonder if God really does care. When we’re hurting we need to remember a few truths about God.
1. God cares for each of us. When we hurt He hurts. Remember: God chose to become a man for a little while, so He knows exactly how we feel. Matthew 9:36 tells us Jesus’ deep compassion for people in emotional pain. (People who were harassed and helpless.) The Greek word for compassion means “to feel deeply, as from deep within one’s bowels.” Jesus felt the pain of those people deep down in his gut. And God already felt that way before he sent Jesus to us. Way back in OT God describes Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6. God is “merciful”. This Hebrew word is derived from the same word in the Hebrew for “womb”. God’s compassion comes from deep within his core. (illustrate feeling in our gut when children were hurt, or Katharine excruciating headache)
For He cares for you - to think about something in such a way as to make an appropriate response—‘to think about, to be concerned about.’
(Ps. 40:17) Isn’t it comforting to know that God thinks about you? You and I are on His mind. His ways and actions are tempered by considering us in each decision He makes. Much of what we do is done without thinking about anyone but ourselves. We may think we’re doing it for someone else. But at our very core we may be doing it for ourselves. But God thinks about us unselfishly.
2. God comforts us in our pain. Isaiah 49:13. Sometimes just knowing that He’s there is comforting. (Illustration: In grief or loss, feeling the arm of a trusted friend around your shoulder can be the most comforting thing possible. Years ago small child wandered into the family swimming pool and drowned. Being there to comfort, distraught, the mother said, “Please don’t tell me this happened for a reason.” For a couple of hours I sat with this family, all of us barely saying a word. Friends and family were just there grieving with them. Most of the time presence is exponentially more comforting than words. The time comes for words.) The Psalms are full of King David crying out to God for comfort in moments of desperation. That’s what casting all your care upon God means.
Casting (ἐðéῤῥßøáíôåò). The aorist participle denoting an act once for all; throwing the whole life with its care on him.
“Casting…upon” – a form of expression to cause responsibility for something to be upon someone—‘to put responsibility on, to make responsible for.’ ðᾶóáí ôὴí ìÝñéìíáí ὑìῶí ἐðéñßøáíôåò ἐð̓ áὐôüí ‘put upon him all responsibility for your cares’ or ‘make him responsible for all your worries’
God promises to be with us. This supernatural presence can calm the most troubled heart. David Livingstone had spent sixteen years in Africa but had not faced such peril before. The white man was surrounded by hostile, angry natives in the heart of Africa. He was in danger of losing his life and thought really hard about fleeing in the night. But something happened that changed his mind and gave him peace in his perilous situation. He recorded it in his diary that January 14, 1856:
“Felt much turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teeming population knocked on the head by savages tomorrow. But I read that Jesus said: “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s an end to it! I will not cross furtively tonight as I intended. Should such a man as I flee? Nay, verily, I shall take observations for latitude and longitude tonight, though they may be the last. I feel quite calm now, thank God!”
3. God offers a wonderful exchange – our worry for His peace. Philippians 4:6 - God wants us to trade our anxiety for His peace. Same Gk. Word “anxiety” as translated “care” in 1 Pet. 5:7.
We are so important to God that He will exchange our little bit for His supernatural peace.
A little Spanish boy in Vigo, Spain who became a devout Christian was asked by an Englishman what had been the influence under which he acted. “It was all because of the odd sparrow,” the boy replied. “I do not understand,” said the Englishman in surprise. “What odd sparrow?”
“Well, Senor, it is this way,” the boy said, “A gentleman gave me a Testament, and I read in one Gospel that two sparrows were sold for a farthing. And again in Luke, I saw, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings … ?” And I said to myself that Nuestro Senor (“our Lord”) Jesus Christ knew well our custom of selling birds. As you know, Sir, we trap birds, and get one chico for two but for two chicos we throw in an extra sparrow. That extra sparrow is only a make-weight, and of no account at all.
“Now, I think to myself that I am so insignificant, so poor and so small that no one would think of counting me. I’m like the fifth sparrow. And yet, oh marvelous, Nuestro Senor says, “Not one of them is forgotten before God.” I have never heard anything like it, Sir. No one but He could ever have thought of not forgetting me.”
—King’s Business
(ending illustration: Have a young person bring chewing gum, pocket lint, or penny and exchange for $5.00 bill)
Conclusion: Now who got the better end of the deal? Are you sure? For him/her it was an exchange that provided something much better than he/she gave up. For me, the smile on their face made it a positive exchange for me. And is God, our heavenly Father, who loves us so much that He gave up His Son to die for us, any less willing to make such an exchange for us?
Are you willing to hold on to your worry, care, and anxiety when God wants to take it away and exchange it with His supernatural peace and set an armed guard around our mind to keep Satan from stealing our peace? I hope not. That would be idiotic. Are you willing to let God take care of your cares?
Then let’s say it together, “I will let God take care of my cares.”
