Leave Your Cares AT The Cross

We hear the phrase “Give it to Jesus” around the church community, but do we really understand what it means? We know that holding on to things that cause us grief is not good practice, but we still do it. Not until we begin to see our circumstances destroy our life, do we wake up. Why is this so? Why does it take us hitting rock bottom; to change our ways?

I believe fear is the reason. Fear of getting out of our comfort zone, (even if our comfort is our enemy) our own little hedge of protection; and facing what is on the other side of the bush. For many the unknown is hard to face.

Last weekend our office staff went to an overnight seminar in Orlando. I had been only working at the office three short months and this was my first outing. Not quite sure what to expect, I was a bit nervous. The thought of being away from my own comfortable surroundings, was causing a bit of anxiety for me. You might be asking, “How old is she?” Well, to answer your question, I am old enough that it shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did and that’s that. As it happened, I went and all was fine. In fact, it gave me a chance to get to know the other girls better and my comfort level is better than before. Our next go round is in a couple of months and I’m actually looking forward to it.

Even though my situation was not a life threatening one, it did have its discomforts. Until I let go of my fears and took the bull by the horn, there was no way I was going to know the outcome. Same goes with you.

Letting go is never easy. As parents we are devastated when our children take their first drive on their own, or move to what seems like a million miles away. As adult children, losing a parent is devastating and even more so if we lose a child. As humans if our marriage ends in divorce or we lose a good friend, it hurts!

Carrying an addiction such as alcohol, substance abuse, pornography or even a bad attitude can be hard to bear. Stress and tension weigh on our shoulders and we wonder why our health is failing. What is it going to take to rid our lives of the things that are pulling us down, the very things we regard as our security blankets?

I have a prayer box that sits on my desk, a remnant from Blessings. This little box has a cross on the top and the words engraved on its side that read: “Give it to Jesus.” Whenever I find myself in a tizzy, worried about something I have no business being worried about, needing to change a wicked way or rid my life of a sin, I write it down, place it in the box, say a prayer and then leave it there. Not!

I, just like many of you, give it to Jesus one day and take it back the next. On one hand I give my children to Him and on the other I worry if they are warm or have enough to eat. On one hand, I trust that He is all I need to make it through, on the other I look for answers elsewhere. On one, I surrender my dreams, on the other I fret because they haven’t come true. What is wrong with this picture? If I am going to trust God with my life, I must trust Him with everything in every area!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Prov 3:5-8 KJV
KJV

What does this passage say to you? To me it says this:
I can’t trust the Lord halfheartedly or try and figure things out on your own, and expect my circumstances to change. I must trust Him 100% and let Him do the work. To me it says I must call on Him in every situation not just the difficult ones, and He will help me and show me what to do. I do not know-it-all; I need His help with everyday things. I must let go of wicked ways in fear and love of God. How can I expect God to heal and make me strong if I am not willing to do my part?

If you are reluctant to let go of your security blanket, or move out of your comfort zone, in fear of what lies ahead, remember Proverbs 3. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path. He will give you the strength you need to make it through. As you begin to leave your cares at the cross, peace will come and before you know it your prayer box will be empty, your life will be happier and your worries gone.