Cast Your Cares by Brandi Ladd

Matthew 6:25-34

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Let me just say how excited I am for Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s hard to believe that it is already corner…time and life is just flying right by!
 
When Rebecca prompted me to write about my word of the year, I thought to myself “Brandi, you haven’t even come close to thinking about what your word of the year should be.” I kept thinking and thinking about it, then finally it hit me a few nights ago. While I haven’t completely decided on what the exact word is going to be, I do know the Lord is teaching me to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
 
Wanna hear the story on how I knew in an instant this is what I need to focus on this year? Here’s the scoop: a few days before I was heading home for Thanksgiving I had a doctor’s appointment. I was talking to my roommates about how nervous, anxious, and worried I was about going. I haven’t been to the doctor in years and that's because I’m afraid of the “what if’s”.
 
What if something is wrong with me? What if I’m really not as healthy as I think?
 
It’s so silly but it’s a legit fear of mine. As I was talking with my roommates it became so clear to me that one of my biggest struggles throughout my entire life has been worrying. Whether it is worrying about my health, finances, my reputation, or just an everyday decision that has to be made, what does my attitude of worrying say about my faith?
 
What a convicting thought. Worry in my heart is saying, “I don’t trust you, Lord, that you will provide”, or that I fear man more than God. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) When Jesus died on the cross, He took our worry, our guilt and our sin away. We have a hope that is unshakable, a steady rock that cannot be shaken. Why do I stress myself out about everything else in this life?
 
 If the Lord takes care of the birds in the sky and lilies of the field how much more will He take care of His own children?
 
So how do I transform that power that worry has over me into rest and peace?
 
Well it starts first with Jesus. I can’t do it on my own. As I pray and ask Him to transform the anxiousness to peace, He will answer. This is a daily choice to ask Him daily to take away the worries of this life and keep my mind focused on Him. It’s actively trusting Him and not just saying that I do. Actions speak louder than words. And on those days when it just seems like too much, it’s asking Him to make my heart believe and trust Him.
 
I’m excited to see how laying my worries at the foot of the cross will strengthen my faith and bring peace that surpasses all understanding.
 
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7