The theme for today is anxiety.
Megan is going through a devotional right now by Alistair Begg (one of Zach’s favourite preachers) called Truth for Dark Days, and found this meditation. We’d like to share it and take a break from the Psalms today. Be encouraged.
Casting All Your Cares
Anxiety is a strange thing, creeping up at times when we least expect it and quickly overwhelming us. When we think about it, though, we realize that anxiety’s causes are generally the same for everyone. They may take on a different face, they may be propelled by different circumstances, but the issues themselves are remarkably similar.
When we face anxiety, we often try to ignore it by distracting our minds: “Let me listen to some music. Let me go for a drive. Let me run a mile. Let me do something … just let me run away!”
Notice, though, that in this verse, Peter does not say we are to deny, ignore, or flee from anxiety. Instead, we should be “casting all your anxieties on him.” The Greek word for “cast” here is a decisive, energetic action word. It might just as well be used to describe throwing out a bag of trash. We don’t take a painstaking effort in moving it; we simply grab it and hurl it into the bin. Likewise, instead of going through our days pressed down by the burden of anxiety, we are to throw it, hurl it, upon the Lord.
It will help us, too, to read the verse in context: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him.” In other words, humility’s presence leads to anxiety’s absence. When we take matters into our own hands through too much worry, we indicate an absence of humility: we’re more concerned with ourselves than with our heavenly Father.
Whether it’s unemployment, exams, singleness, or recurring illness, we may not be able to remove the causes of our anxiety. Peter doesn’t address circumstances, though; he addresses the anxiety produced by the circumstances. Our anxiety itself is what we cast upon the Lord, doing exactly what the Bible says to do: humbling ourselves under God’s hand, saying, “Father knows best.” We can refuse to be burdened by the worries which weigh us down, disturbing our peace and distracting our minds, because of the Lord’s willingness to help.
You might be struggling through today, hoping you’re going to make it to tomorrow. Truly cast your burden upon the only One who is able to carry it, saying, “God, I cannot live my life with this burden on my back. Take it. It’s Yours.” Cast your anxieties into the loving arms of your heavenly Father and experience the freedom and peace only He can provide.
Today’s Updates:
Zach had a fairly uneventful day today. He was off the ventilator the entire day which is exciting, but they put him back on the ventilator overnight to give him a break. He has a strong cough which is helping him clear out his lungs. We are happy to see small improvements, especially breathing on his own!
Zach’s level of consciousness is about the same as yesterday, but the nurse says that his movements today show some healing and improvement compared to his movements before. We are cautiously optimistic and praying for further improvements with Zach’s brain in the future! Zach has required regular pain meds again today to keep him relaxed.
The tops of Zach’s feet have a pulse, which is an improvement! Zach used to only have a pulse on his ankles so we’re glad to see the feet slowly healing. His right fingers and all his toes are black, but the small improvements in the main area of the hand and the feet is very encouraging.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers! We have seen miracles every day with Zach. Thank God for His mercies that are new every morning!
”Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.“ (1 Peter 5:6-7)
