Rediscovering Hope Through the Lens of Suffering
Guest Post by Jenna Kosters
The Lord says: “My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
A few weeks ago, I shared a major disappointment for our family. I miscarried our third child.
It was our first miscarriage and I was so confused and disappointed…
[Read more…]Guest Post by Ifeoma Samuel
“Mummy, why is God not answering my prayers?” the curious mind of my almost eight year old daughter.
“Which one exactly?” I probed.
“I asked the Lord to give us a baby.” She stated plainly.
“God knows you need a baby. He will answer. Perhaps it’s not yet time”, trying to give a brief answer.
“Mummy, everyone else have a baby brother and sister. I am alone”. Now, she wanted something more concrete for a response.
[Read more…]Guest Post by Jessie Synan
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10, NIV)
This post is straight from a journal entry I wrote a while back about waiting for a financial breakthrough. I wanted to share it today so someone out there that is going through financial distress could see the inside thoughts from a person going through it as well.
Too often we are met with so many articles on how to get out of financial problems, but I wanted to share specifically on finding the hope in the midst of financial distress to let you know one thing: God will always show up. Just usually never the way we plan Him to.
Guest Post by Michele Morin
It all started as a strategy for outreach. We sat around a table and began to dream out loud, trusting that the fire of shared passion and the wisdom of group process would yield creative ideas for communicating the love of Christ to our community.
I don’t mind confessing that I loved my dream. We would offer free oil changes to those in need: the poor, the elderly, single parents, come one, come all! Coffee and brownies would make the most of the waiting time as those of us less talented with a wrench would fill cups and keep the conversation flowing. We prepared colorful informational brochures about our church and its programs. We bought supplies, spread the word, and waited.
Not one person signed up.
Not one person called to inquire..
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
I spent the better half of my day worrying about circumstances beyond my control. My mind was cluttered and overwhelmed. I was tired and weary of giving my focus and attention to what I could not change. But every time I’d attempt to lay it down, I’d subconsciously pick it back up again, minutes later.
Does this sound familiar to you?
I was growing frustrated. “Why can’t I seem to let this thing go?” I asked myself.
Letting go of a thing is very rarely a one-and-done deal. It’s most often a continual process. Commonly, it’s taught that when the worries and cares come rushing in like a flood, we should receive them, allow ourselves to feel them, and then let them go.
And then let them go again.
And then again.
And yet again.
But I was tired of this charade. I got to thinking that perhaps letting go of my cares was simply not enough. There had to be more to this process than what I was comprehending.
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
It’s interesting to note that the definition of to cast is to “throw something forcefully in a specified direction.”
In other words, when scripture says we are to cast our cares upon Him, what it means is that we should..
hurl,
chuck,
pitch,
launch,
propel,
send,
fling.. our cares upon the Lord.
This adds a whole new meaning to the word, cast, doesn’t it? Essentially, we ought to send our cares away as hard as we can, as far as we can.
A commonly repeated quote says that we ought to lay our burdens down before the Lord. However, nowhere in scripture does it actually say this. What scripture does say is this:
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
Cast your burden. There’s that word again. The problem with the idea of laying down our burdens, is that it’s all too easy to pick them back up again.
The struggle is real, isn’t it? The temptation to pick up what we previously laid down?
What if instead of merely laying down our burdens, we were to cast them up?
Out of our reach.
Far beyond our ability to take them back.
Straight into the hands of Jesus.
How might this idea of ‘casting your cares’ change your perspective?
Some might think that this is an insignificant twist on words. But it was life-changing for me! I don’t simply want to lay my cares down. I want to cast my cares as fast, and as hard, and as far away as I can.
If I believe that Jesus truly does care for me, as His Word says, then I can be sure that He wants this for me too!
The next time you’re tempted to lay your burdens down, why not cast them up instead! Let Jesus carry them away, as far as the east is from the west.
This is how much He cares for you!
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