February 5, 2020

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

I am a person who does not like to ask for help. In fact, I do not even like to tell people about my problems because I don’t want other people thinking they have to carry my burdens for me. But as I’ve grown older, and especially through some recent health problems, I’ve realized that I must humble myself because I am not smart enough, strong enough, or skilled enough to handle everything myself. I have to ask for help from those who can provide what I can’t. To think I can handle everything myself is not strength, it is pride.

However, the other thing I have realized in these last few years is that casting your cares upon someone else and asking them for help is much easier when you are confident of their unconditional love for you. If you think someone is going to think less of you because of your weaknesses, then you will never ask them for help. However, when you have someone in your life that will never stop loving you, regardless of how hard things get, it is much easier to let your guard down and let them help you.

This is exactly what 1 Peter 5:6-7 is talking about. We cannot do it on our own, and to think we can is prideful. Each of us needs to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, knowing that he will deliver us and lift us up into who he desires us to be. And we can confidently cast our cares on him because, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Loving Heavenly Father, today I repent of the prideful sin of attempting to bear all of my own burdens. Give the me strength and humility to share my struggles with those who love me, and most of all, to cast those cares on You. Thank You for Your unconditional, unending, perfect love!

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon