Casting Burdens

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 (NIV)

The past few days I’ve had a burden. I’ve battled to not worry. I have tried everything in my power to solve this problem, yet I’m still not able to fix it. I’ve prayed for a solution, yet so far the Lord just keeps saying, “Wait. Trust Me.”

Ever been there?

My problem isn’t too huge, I guess, in the grand scheme of things. I can’t find the strap for Trinity’s seat belt. I took it out to get it washed, and now I’m unable to find it. And the nearest Wal-Mart where I could buy a new one is literally about 10,000 miles away. Every weekday I drive a road that once was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most fatal accidents in the world. I feel Trinity really NEEDS to be in her car seat (despite the fact that there is no law enforcing that here in Swaziland).

My stomach tightens even as I type these words.

What is worse is I feel this is my fault. I should have taken the time to loop that seat belt back into the car seat the moment it reached my hands. But I didn’t. I put it somewhere “safe.” Perhaps it was too safe? Or perhaps Trinity found it and put it in her own “safe” place? All I know is, after searching through and organizing many cupboards (and finding other things!), I still can’t find it. I try to figure it out when I lay down at night. I just have to keep going back to, “Lord, I trust You for Your perfect solution in this.”

A few days ago as I was on a diligent search, the Lord clearly prompted me to stop what I was doing and sit with Trinity. She was watching a Psalty video. I chose to obey, although I really wanted to continue my quest for that seat belt. I sat on the floor with Trinity on my lap, and the next song was about casting your cares upon Jesus.

I’ll cast all my cares upon You
I’ll lay all of my burdens
Down at Your feet
Whenever I don’t know
What to do
I’ll just cast all my cares upon You

Such a tender love from God flooded over me, as though it were me in His lap. Okay, Abba-Daddy, I’ll trust You with this. I’ll cast my cares on You. You’ll take care of this, even though I feel it is my fault I’m in this mess.

Such peace accompanies trusting the Lord! In Ephesians 2:14 we find the words “He is our peace.” Jesus is our peace. He lives in my heart. I can trust Him and walk in peace.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Have I found the seat belt yet? Nope. But I trust our caring Father to help me find a solution, one way or another. Whenever I find my tummy once again tightening with anxiety, I say (out loud sometimes), “Lord, I choose to trust You with this. I choose to cast this burden on You.”

And in exchange for my burden, the Lord floods me with peace. Wow. Thank You, Lord!

Humbling Situations

Ephesians 4:29
“When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.”

Yesterday in the shower I begged God for His LOVE to consume me, as well as many other fruit, but especially HUMIILITY. Ask for humility and what do you get? Humbling situations.

Yesterday evening we had some friends over for dinner. Earlier Kayla and I made a chocolate cake. I should have told Kayla to scrape the top of the measuring spoon with a knife (for the cocoa), but instead I had her press it to the side which made the measurements bigger.

My fault.

But when we served our over-chocolaty dessert I whispered to our guests that Kayla was the one who measured the chocolate.

What a terrible thing to do!

That whole cake was a fiasco as I also made the frosting too runny and tried putting it on the cake while it was still warm…the frosting was running off like lava, and the top layer of cake kept sliding around.

Humility. God was answering my prayer, yet I resisted and tried to pin the blame on someone else.

So today I’ll tell Kayla what I did and apologize to her. She is usually extremely merciful. I am hoping for her gracious forgiveness once again.

I’ll also tell our friends at next opportunity the same, asking them for forgiveness.

Pride is such an ugly thing.

And forgiveness is so beautiful.

Isaiah 1:18
“The Lord says, ‘Come, let us talk about these things. Though your sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. Though your sins are deep red, they can be white like wool.