Because He cares for you

(1Peter 5:7) “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Grief is dealt with in different ways; needless to say it is an emotion that is not often welcomed with open arms. However it does teach us many valuable lessons! It exposes our heart, allowing us to gaze into those hidden crevices that normally remain concealed.

The mistake I have seen many Christians make is this, because they cannot settle a concept in their minds that does not mean it isn’t true. If God’s Word declares a truth we must learn to accept and receive it even if our minds scream, “it can’t be so”!

Grief exposes our actual position before a holy God! It’s not as if God is ever caught off guard that will never happen. He is all knowing and sovereign, He is not bound by time! All that means for our confused minds is this, He know the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. If this was not true, we wouldn’t have verses like these penned in the canon of scripture; “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:4-5) – Observe; He chose us (believers or the Apostles if you prefer in the context of this verse) in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world. Paul is writing this letter and according to historical facts this was about 4000 years after creation and yet reference is made to a time before that! If you are honest with the text there is no getting around the facts that God had planned this way back then and it was only now coming to fruition. God had already seen it happen, how? He is not governed by time! The closest I suppose our minds can get to conceive this truth is time travel although this concept is also linked to time. God has the capability of making a declaration about something in the future and witnessing it happen in the present. He is sovereign – He self-governs the future in accordance with His will! God’s perfect love now working His plan out the way He intended. When God wills something it comes to pass, period!

We also will things to happen in our lives; we say we will do this today and that tomorrow; hope drives our intention. Needless to say, how often have your plans fallen flat and not played out the way you had hoped?

When it comes to grief in our lives I can with assurance say, we do not hope for grief nor have we willed it for our lives! However, it is the great equalizer and it often brings perspective to our existence. It humbles us and teaches us our dependence upon our God! Take the arrival of a new born baby, there is normally great excitement within the camp, a mother decks out a room with paint and trinkets just the way she visualizes her happy gurgles little home. Then the unthinkable happens, tragedy strikes and baby is born with Down syndrome. All the preconceived thoughts of what could have been suddenly smashed. Who would ever wish that on anybody? But a reality of life! It is in these times of our lives where our faith is tested and we see what sort of faith we really own.

There have been many great examples through scripture that teach us how to respond to tragedy. I recall the account of Stephen, a man stoned by the masses for his commitment to Christ and in the throes of death he found it upon his heart to pray to God for the forgiveness of his perpetrators. A phenomenal declaration of his faith in God! Wow! His example blows my mind and yet is gets me to praise God for it. Mission accomplished!

Regardless of the trial of life, the Apostle Peter gives us this insight and it is beautiful when we latch onto it with both hands. Regardless of the trials of life, we have all been subjected to the tests of life. But do we all have this hope? “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1Peter 5:7) – Music to my ears! Thank you Father God for taking the “time out of your day” to care for me, WOW! When this hits home for the Christian it is a beautiful actuality. I am just so thankful that God would care to bother with someone as complex and frivolous as me and yet that is exactly what He does. Our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ has afforded the Christian that privilege; praise His name now and forever more, Amen!

With that thought in our minds let us conquer the day by the grace of God for His glory.

Signing off

Tyrone