Last night, I became entangled with concerns for my company. One of our clients hasn’t been responding to emails, has missed meetings and hasn’t done a single thing we’ve asked of them in order to properly fulfill our contractual obligations. Payment is due Friday, but we haven’t received a reply to any of the three emails we’ve sent regarding their invoice.
As I thought about this while trying to fall asleep, my mind began to wander to other clients and soon thoughts of “what if” crept in. What if this client isn’t happy with the work we’ve provided, what if that client is frustrated with what we suggested they do, what if they decide not to extend their contract, what if my company falls apart…on and on my mind circled around all the things that could possibly go wrong. Pretty soon I was in such a state of anxiety I was nearly in tears and knew sleep wouldn’t come any time soon.
Right as I was about to reach for the lamp, the Lord said to me, “you aren’t casting your cares on me.”
I immediately felt convicted.
I’ve recently been quoting this verse to friends and family, telling them to let the Lord take their worries, yet here I was taking on the “cares” of my world and not allowing the Lord to do what He does best: guide, direct, protect and resolve.
In Strong’s Concordance, we learn the word “casting” from 1 Peter 5:7 in the original Greek means: to throw upon. So, in reality, God desires for us to THROW our worries, concerns, anxieties to Him, He doesn’t want us to hold onto them for even a moment.
As I began to realize how tightly I’ve been hanging onto my worries regarding my company, I noticed my attitude the past several days has shifted. I’ve been shorter than usual, more anxious than I have been in years, and wasn’t filled with hope and positivity like I normally am.
Because I was holding onto my cares, my day-to-day life was negatively impacted.
This morning while in prayer, I told the Lord I trusted Him to take care of everything. I trusted Him to make sure payment came through, I trusted Him to tell me what more I needed to do to assure my clients approval, I told Him He has never failed me and I knew He wouldn’t fail me now. I also told Him I was handing over every worry, concern and anxiety to Him and had enough faith in Him to fully let go.
Today, I pray you throw, violently if you must, your cares at the Lord and allow Him to do what He knows how to do. Don’t hold onto them! By clinging to your worries and concerns you are only hurting yourself and keeping the Lord from being able to help.
Cast your cares upon the Lord and I guarantee He will make a way through whatever trial you’ve been walking through.
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
-Psalm 55:22
A Woman Standing 