There are times the frustrations of life overwhelm us because we take our focus off the admonition to cast all of our cares upon God because He cares for us and promises to sustain us.
1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Psalm 55:22 (ESV) — 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
What we are really saying when we neglect our duty to cast our burden upon Him is that we think we can handle it (pride) or we don’t think He is able to do anything about the situation (denial of the truth). That is when we need a good dose of what God is capable of doing.
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Stop and think about how you would remedy your situation, then think again because God is able to do more, in fact “abundantly more,” but wait there’s even more; “more than all we ask or think.” Wow! Our thinking is too small as we think of one solution whereas God is able to do more.
Often, we hold back in our service and giving, thinking we need to preserve things but notice here that God is able to make all grace abound. And why would He make it abound so that we will know we have all sufficiency and that we may in turn abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV) — 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Stop and think about the way God is able to bring down the proud and to even cause stones to praise Him if we refuse. Nothing is too hard for the Lord!
Daniel 4:37 (ESV) — 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Matthew 3:9 (ESV) — 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
The key is holding on to the thought of God’s ability being far more than we can comprehend because that will keep us looking to Him and trusting Him as the Apostle Paul recalled as he wrote about suffering, yet was able to press forward because He believed God was able.
2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV) — 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
You can trust God and His ability and you can trust the great High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is at the right hand of God where He makes intercession. Keep in mind that He is able to intercede and He is able to deliver from any situation.
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) — 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Considering God’s ability, should we not just cast our burdens upon Him? Considering how God cares for us, demonstrated in the giving of His Son, should we not come to Him with every concern?
Romans 8:32 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
God is able!
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
