| How Do We Know God Cares? |
| Written by Sue Dickinson | |
| Thursday, 23 April 2009 | |
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A lot of people are having a tough time coming to terms with the economic problems we are facing. A lot of what we had always believed has been questioned, and it is hard to admit that things we have always been sure of like a good job or stable future are no longer certainties.
A lot of people are having a tough time coming to terms with the economic problems we are facing. A lot of what we had always believed has been questioned, and it is hard to admit that things we have always been sure of like a good job or stable future are no longer certainties. I think it is especially hard for Christians to deal with these issues because its hard to admit that we have made mistakes. We feel we have to be so strong in our faith, and our failings are exposed in a way they never were when times were better. I know that although I have been a Christian all my life, I have trouble taking my hands off the steering wheel and letting God do the driving. My prayers are often laundry lists of what I want God to do rather than trusting in him to guide me to do the right things. Does that sound like you, too? The hard part is that we haven't been equipped to handle the tough challenges of today: rising housing prices and decreasing values, unemployment, and so much more. And so when bad stuff happens, the control we thought we had over the situation crumbles and we are left with the knowledge that we can't handle it after all. So, does God really care about us? Does he want to help us and to answer our prayers, even when we have to fix something we've messed up in the past? Shouldn't he be spending time on more worthy people? Well, the good news is that the Bible tells us the answer to those questions are: yes, yes, and no. 1 Peter 5:7 instructs us to "give all your worry and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." And not only if we've done everything right up to this point, but probably even more so if we've made a few dumb mistakes along the line. It's not hard to believe that if our circumstances are caused by our own actions they are our problems to solve, not God's. I personally struggle with this a lot and have wasted tons of time that God could have been using me for his purposes. But God isn't concerned with "whose fault it is." His top concern is to take the weight of our anxieties onto his own shoulders. In Matthew 11:, 29-30 he tells us "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." All he asks from us is to trust Him. That's right. We no longer have to carry our fears and anxieties on our shoulders. God's yoke is strong and he will sustain us through the tough times " and hold us in celebration when they are good again. That is one gift that is too prized to reject. The Article Author: Sue Dickinson enjoys writing about current events, parenting, and family from a Christian perspective. She is the editor of ForGodSoLovedGifts.com, a Christian Blog focused on God's gifts and our gifts in return. Sue is also the founder of LittleLoveGifts.com, an on-line Christian gift store featuring exceptional Christian gifts for all occasions, many under $20. |
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