Tag Archives: Encouragement for LIfe

Oct4

Casting Your Cares: Trusting God with Your Burdens

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The peaceful art of fly fishing came to mind when I read 1 Peter 5:7, which tells us to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Standing knee-deep in a flowing river, the fly fisherman rhythmically casts his line far into the water with a practiced flick of the wrist. He doesn’t throw it haphazardly, nor does he hold back and keep it tucked away. He releases it fully into the river’s current, trusting that his carefully chosen fly will land in just the right spot.

A Tackle Box of Troubles: Cast Every Burden To God

Imagine if we placed all our worries, stress, anxiety, and troubles on a hook just like that fisherman and cast them to God. What if, instead of carrying our heavy load of concerns around with us, tucked away in a “tackle box” of fear and doubt, we actually let go? What if we trusted that when we cast our burdens into God’s capable hands, He would catch every single one?

The truth is, many of us hold on to our worries far too tightly. We tuck them away, thinking we can handle them on our own. But the problem is that our “tackle box” gets heavy. The distress piles up, and soon we’re carrying a burden we were never meant to bear.

Learning to Let Go: Trusting God’s Care

But God calls us to something different. He asks us to cast all our anxiety on Him—not just some of it, not just the things we think He can handle, but all of it. Why? Because He cares for us. His love is so vast, so steady, that no worry is too great or too small to be cast upon Him.

Much like the fisherman who trusts the flow of the river and the skill of his cast, we must trust God’s willingness to carry our burdens. When we cast our cares on Him, we aren’t throwing them into a void. We are entrusting them to a loving Father who is ready and able to take them from us.

The Promise of Peace When We Cast Our Cares to Him

Our burdens become lighter when we turn to Him in prayer and place them in His hands. We experience freedom and peace when we trust Him with the things that weigh us down. And just like the river continues to flow, God’s grace and care for us are constant, ready to meet us in every season of life.

So today, take a moment to look at what’s in your “tackle box.” What worries, anxieties, or fears are you holding on to? What’s weighing you down that you need to cast to God? Then, with faith, cast them into His hands and trust that He will carry them. In doing so, you will feel your heart become a little lighter.

God cares for you deeply, more than you can imagine. So cast away, and trust that He’s got you—and all your worries—covered.

Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, Thank you for your unfailing love and care. Help us trust you enough to cast each of our cares and concerns at Your feet. Teach us how to release our worries instead of holding them tightly. When we struggle to let go, remind us of your promise that you are always with us, ready to carry our burdens. In Jesus' name, Amen

Related Verses:

  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6 – 7 (NIV)
  • “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

Oct2

Trusting God’s Plan in our Darkest Days

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“’For I know the plans I have for you,’
 declares the LORD,
‘ plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
 plans to give you hope and a future.'”
Jeremiah 29:11

Just like a caterpillar enters the dark, mysterious chrysalis before emerging as a beautiful butterfly, we often go through dark periods in life where it can be hard to see God’s hand at work. While walking through those valleys, we may feel alone, uncertain, and hopeless about the future. But even in those times, God is at work in us, bringing about transformation and growth that we cannot yet see.

God’s Promise in the Dark Valleys

The hopeful words of Jeremiah 29:11 remind us that God has a plan for each of us: “For I know the plan I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” This encouraging assurance was spoken to God’s people while they endured a long period of exile, feeling lost and abandoned. God saw their hardships, and He heard their cries for help. He met them in that lonely place and let them know His prosperous vision for their future. Even in their darkest time, God had not forgotten them. He was working for their good, preparing a future of hope and restoration.

God is Always Working, Even When We Don’t See It

In our own lives, we may experience seasons of difficulty where God’s presence feels distant. But just like the caterpillar in its chrysalis, those times are often the very moments when God is preparing us for something greater. His plans for us are always for good, even when we can’t yet see the end result.

So when you find yourself in a dark valley, remember that God is with you, working behind the scenes, transforming your circumstances for His glory and your good. Trust in His timing and have faith that, like the butterfly, you will one day emerge from the darkness with new strength, beauty, and purpose.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your constant presence in our lives, even in the darkest valleys. Help us trust Your plans, knowing that You are always at work for our good, even when we can’t see it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Verses: 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5 - 6

Jul22

Tears in a Bottle

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 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (Psalm 56:8 NLT)

God loves you so much and is attentive to every detail of your life. Not only does He know the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7), but He also cares so deeply about whatever painful circumstance you are going through that He collects your tears in a bottle and records each one in His book.

  • Your tears matter to God because YOU matter to God!

No other animal has the ability to shed emotional tears like humans, and I have often wondered what God was thinking when He decided to upgrade us with the capability of crying.

Recently I learned that our tears have different chemical makeups depending on the purpose behind the tears. For example, happy tears are chemically different from tears caused by heartbreak or grief. Similarly, tears caused by pain (like the ones a child cries when he skins his knee) are different than the ones we shed if we are slicing an onion or have an irritant in our eye.1

I found it even more fascinating that emotional tears have a high concentration of stress hormones, so our bodies are ridding themselves of toxins with each of those teardrops. Additionally, when we cry for an extended amount of time, our body releases extra “feel good” hormones – oxytocin and endorphins – that can help relieve both physical and emotional pain, allowing us to become more relaxed and providing us with a sense of comfort and calm, like a natural “painkiller.”

  • When the Creator of the universe hand-crafted humans, He equipped us with “release valves” for times when life becomes too overwhelming for us to hold it all inside.

Scripture also tells us, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5 NIV) This verse gives me hope that all our sorrowful tears are like tiny seeds, and one day they will produce a harvest of joy.

  • Our suffering is never wasted. God can bring a harvest of good from even the worst circumstances. (Romans 8:28)

Although God never promised that life here on earth would be without pain, suffering, …and tears, He does promise that He will one day wipe away every tear from the eyes of His children. “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 ESV)

In heaven, believers will find eternal peace and comfort with our Savior. There will be no more pain, no more sickness, no more heartbreak, no more grief, no more death, and no more tears…because we will no longer need them!

  • Our Heavenly Father will wipe the last of our tears from our eyes when we arrive in our glorious eternal home.

Dear friend, if you are experiencing a painful season in your life, God sees you and cares about each teardrop that falls from your eyes. Trust that God loves you and can use even the most heartbreaking circumstances to bring about something good for His children. “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17 ESV)

Related Verses:

"Since you are so much more precious to God than a thousand flocks of sparrows, and since God knows you in every detail—down to the number of hairs on your head at this moment—you can be secure and unafraid of any person, and you have nothing to fear from God either." (Luke 12:7 VOICE)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV)
"Jesus wept." John 11:35 (NIV)
1https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-microscopic-structures-of-dried-human-tears-180947766/

Jul9

Be a Prayer Warrior…Not a Prayer Worrier

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“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves.”  James 1: 5 – 7 MSG

On a recent trip to the beach, I sat on the shore and watched the waves roll in. I noticed how occasional gusts of wind blew the crests of the waves, causing a sea spray to shoot a fine mist of salt water into the wind and create seafoam.

The bubbly white foam rolled in with the waves and was deposited on the beach, leaving a collection of effervescent spume at the shoreline. Over time the mounds of frothy bubbles popped and then completely disappeared.

Observing these wind-whipped waves reminded me of James’ description of people who “worry their prayers.” When we mix our prayers with our worries and doubts, the outcome is like blending the wind with the waves, resulting in a buildup of seafoam that seems substantial, but in the end, it produces nothing.

Jesus taught us about the futility of worrying when he said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25 – 26 NIV)

Worrying about our problems causes anxiety without solving anything, but praying about our problems brings peace because when we pray, we know that we have tapped into God’s heavenly storehouse of limitless and unimaginable problem-solving solutions.

Do you ever find yourself worrying about something instead of “boldly, believingly, without a second thought,” laying your cares at the feet of your Heavenly Father?

Don’t waste your time and energy churning with worries and ruminating about actual or imagined problems. Turn to God with your cares and trust that He will help you. He loves to help his children!

Be a Prayer Warrior, not a Prayer Worrier!

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Dear Lord, Thank you that you are available 24/7 and that I can always turn to You in prayer. Forgive me for the times that I “worry my prayers” and fail to trust that You are big enough to handle any request.  When worries start to swirl in my mind, remind me of the wind-whipped waves and help me have faith to boldly and confidently approach Your throne of grace where I know You are ready and willing to help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jan4

Better Than a New Year’s Resolution

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At the start of this new year, the quote above by Britain’s King George seems so appropriate, even though he spoke it to his “embattled people” at the beginning of World War II.

It reminds me about today’s “embattled people” around the world who are basically fighting a World War against an invisible enemy ~ Covid, along with many who are facing other unknowns and uncertainties in life.

Thankfully, as we stand at the gate of this new year, ready to move forward into the “unknown,” the wise words of King George still hold true today, and they are far better than any New Year’s Resolution we could declare: “Put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than any light, safer than a known way.”

  • “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.” Psalm 119:105 MSG
  • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 4: 5 – 6 NIV
  • “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 ESV
  • “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Mar21

Every Storm Runs Out of Rain

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God is the ultimate // S t o r m  W h i s p e r e r ! //

He’s still in The business of calming storms — even pandemic life storms. When you feel like your courage is melting in the face of these desperate circumstances, call on the One who can hush the towering waves of panic and turn them into peace. 🌊 🌊🙏🏻☝🏻✌🏻🙌🏼

“So they cried out to the Lord in their distress, and God brought them out safe from their desperate circumstances. God quieted the storm to a whisper; the sea’s waves were hushed. So they rejoiced because the waves had calmed down; then God led them to the harbor they were hoping for.”

Psalm 107: 28 – 30 (CEB)

Aug10

When Trees Clap Their Hands

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You will indeed go out with joy
and be peacefully guided;
the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

The scorching Georgia heat radiated off the black tar of the parking lot where I stood waiting to meet my son. He was running late, and I was quickly running out of patience. To make the most of the delay, I pulled out my cell phone to check emails. But as soon as I read the first sentence, the sickening sight of a blank screen and dying battery appeared, and my frustration level escalated.

I felt a slight, welcomed breeze blow through my hair as I looked for a shady place to sit, and I glanced toward the sky to see if a summer storm might be brewing. That’s when I noticed the lone tree topped with limbs forming a perfectly shaped cross. The beautiful scene stopped me in my tracks as I felt God nudging me with a reminder that my day had been so jammed with appointments and to-do lists, I had not taken time out for HIM.  He too had been waiting for His child to meet Him…and she was too busy.

“Holy goosebumps” tingled from head to toe as I felt God bending down reminding me to align my priorities appropriately. He paused my schedule right there in the blazing hot parking lot to send me a sign of His love. The tree He destined as my messenger also served as my shade from the scorching sun. I remembered the verse from Isaiah,

“You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Joy and peace were blatantly absent from the hours leading up tho this moment, but my frustration melted into joy while I treasured this heaven-sent gift. I did not schedule this divine appointment, but I am so thankful that He interrupted my chaotic life with a holy meeting.

I pray that God will open your eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of mountains singing and trees clapping their praise to Him…or growing their limbs in the shape of a cross! Make your time with Him a priority, and He will fill you with joy and guide you peacefully through your day.

Mar21

Keep Your Eyes on God ~ not your difficulties

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Eyes on God

“Then Peter called to him: ‘Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water.’ ‘All right,’ the Lord said, ‘come along!’ So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted.”

Matthew 14:28 – 30 TLB

We may not walk on water, but we do walk through periods of tumultuous circumstances in life. If we focus on the swirling waves of difficulties surrounding us, we can easily feel like we are being swallowed up by the surge of life’s problems.

Peter experienced a rather unusual example of God’s power when he went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. His faith in Jesus gave him the courage to throw his leg over the side of the boat and step out into the stormy sea.  However, his faith wavered when he realized what he was doing. Once he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the crushing waves around him, he began to sink.

Like Peter, we often start out with great intentions. We may be “prayed up” and filled with holy confidence before we begin to face the day. But once we wade into the undulating sea of life, our faith begins to falter, and we sink in despair. We feel ill-equipped to navigate the storms that batter us. Yet this doesn’t mean that we have failed. When Peter’s faith faltered, he immediately reached out to Jesus. In his time of greatest fear, he called on his Savior to rescue him.

When you are afraid of the troubles that swirl around you, keep your eyes on Jesus’ power rather than your own inadequacies. Call out to Him for help, and He will rescue you from the stormy seas.

“We have to pray with our eyes on God ~ not on the difficulties.” ~ Oswald Chambers

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:31-33

Oct27

Rock Bottom

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Rock Bottom

“He reached down and drew me from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded, mired in the muck and the clay.

With a gentle hand, He pulled me out to set me down safely on a warm rock;

He held me until I was steady enough to continue the journey again.”

Psalm 40:2 (VOICE)

Have you ever been so low that “up” is the only way out? If you find yourself in a situation like that today, remember that God is the ROCK in your bedrock. No matter how deeply mired you are in life’s muck and the clay, He is right there beside you ~ ready to take your hand in His and lift you to higher ground. He sees each teardrop that streams down your cheeks and hears your cries for help. His love is greater than anything you are going through.

So go ahead and reach out to God’s gentle grasp. He will pull you out of that dark hole where you find yourself stranded, and set you down safely on a firm foundation. He will hold you there, wrapped in His divine embrace, until you are steady enough to continue on your journey again. In your weakness, He will be your strength.

Take comfort in knowing that He is the Rock at the bottom of your pit!

“The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my Place of Safety.” Psalm 18:2 (NLT)

Apr15

Be a Rainbow in Someone’s Cloud

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“What a wonderful God we have—He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy,and the One who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4 (TLB)

God is the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort. When we go through trials and heartache, He comforts and strengthens us. But that’s not where it ends.

Like one-the-job-training, when we experience difficult circumstances, we become uniquely equipped to help others who might be experiencing similar hardships. While some might see failure and loss, God sees divine qualifications to be used mightily for blessing others. Our painful struggles give us a vocabulary to encourage and support other people who are going through the same things, and our despair allows us to empathize with their difficulties. When you view life’s anguish through God’s perspective, your miseries can be turned into your ministry.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud today!

“Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; do the same for them.”

Luke 6:31 (VOICE)