1 Peter 5:7 - Jesus, Our Friend in Sorrow and Suffering.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on
him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and
cares to God, for he cares about you.
INTRODUCTION
Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily
struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted
God fully with your life. It takes humility,
however, to recognize that God cares, to admit your
need, and to let others in God's family help you.
Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own
sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But
when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear
the weight even of those struggles. Letting God
have your anxieties calls for action, not
passivity. Don't submit to circumstances, but to the
Lord who controls circumstances. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
I received a letter from a radio listener
who for five years had been crippled into a
sitting position by arthritis. For five long,
painful years she was unable to stretch out or to
lie down, yet she wrote, "I have spent many a
day alone, but never a lonely day." Why? It was
Christ who made the difference. With Christ as your
Savior and constant Companion, you, too, although
alone, need never be lonely.
You today who are lying on a hospital bed
enduring the loneliness of suffering can rest assured
that Christ can give you His grace and strength.
While you lie there, you can know something of the
ministry of intercession, the greatest ministry on
earth, as you pray for others.
Perhaps in suffering and sorrow, you want
someone to come along with a strong hand to help
wipe the tears away, put the smile back on your
face, and give you joy. Jesus can do just that.
God loves His children. If you are willing to
trust Him and give yourself to Him, He can carry
your sorrow.
Have you felt the Lord's peace when
you're hurting? [Peace for Each Day by Billy
Graham]
COMMENTARY
Four Steps to Help You Stop Worrying
It takes more than willpower to stop
worrying - but you already know that, because
youve already tried it. Youve thought, I
shouldnt worry about this, yet it stays on your
mind.
Here are four steps to help you stop
worrying:
1. Get to know God.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:32, People who
dont know God and the way he works fuss over
these things (The Message). If you dont have
a relationship with God, you have every reason
to worry. Thats why you need to get to know
God!
As a believer, you have a heavenly Father
who has promised to take care of you. You are
Gods child, and children get special privileges.
When you worry, you are acting like you don't
have a loving Father who is with you and for
you.
2. Put God first in every area of your
life.
Matthew 6:31-33 says, Dont worry at
all about having enough food and clothing
your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well
that you need them, and he will give them to you
if you give him first place in your life
(TLB). Anytime you take God out of the center of
your life and put anything else there - no matter
how good it is - youre going to worry.
3. Live one day at a time.
The Bible says, Dont worry about
tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries.
Each day has enough trouble of its own
(Matthew 6:34 NCV). If youre worrying about
tomorrow, you cant enjoy today. Also, when youre
always worried about tomorrow, the future gets
overwhelming. But God promises to give you the grace and
strength you need when you need it. Right now, you
only need enough power for today.
4. Trust God to care.
Give all your worries and cares to
God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).
How do you do that? One way is to memorize
Gods promises in the Bible. Theyre like an
insurance policy for believers. When you know
somethings covered, you dont worry about it anymore.
Another way to trust God is to pray. If you prayed
as much as you worried, youd have a lot less
to worry about.
Whats the result of taking these four
steps? You will experience Gods peace, which
is far more wonderful than the human mind can
understand (Philippians 4:7 TLB). [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
ILLUSTRATION
My mom was charming, loving, beautiful,
brilliant and a paranoid schizophrenic. Her mental
illness made it painful to love her. Even so, I
adored her and treasured the times when she took
her medication and was at her best.
For many years she lived in group homes.
Some were nicer than others. When I got married,
I invited her to move in with me and my
husband. Four of those five years were the best times
of our relationship, and we forged precious
memories. Eventually, though, she stopped taking her
medication, and her behavior became erratic again. By
then I had my two-year-old son Pierce. I didn't
want him to have the scary, chaotic childhood I'd
had. But I couldn't just abandon her. I didn't
know what to do.
In my despair, I slipped away alone with
my Bible and begged God to help me. After hours
of prayers and tears, a deep calm came over me,
and I heard Jesus's gentle voice speak to my
heart, You can let her go. I've got her.
Within a few months my mom had a
breakdown. She was hospitalized and then moved into a
lovely assisted living facility where she was
required to take her medication. She lived another
five years in safety, and I was able to love her
freely until she died in 2014. Isabella
Campolattaro
Faith Step: Who do you need to let go?
Write Jesus a letter, asking for help and
entrusting the situation to Him. [Mornings With Jesus
2021 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
ONE LINERS
The brook would lose its song if the rocks
were removed. [Your Daily Walk SB]
There are no roses without thorns, nor
victories without battles. [Daily Walk Bible]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
1 Peter 5:6, 7 - A Journey with Jesus is
Really Living!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201118-1052.html
1 Peter 5:7 - Shifting the Burden.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220715-0813.html
Matthew 6:34 - Intimacy With God Destroys
Worry.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180104-1030.html
Philippians 4:6-7 - Peace Beyond
Understanding.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190511-1519.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
