After a brake of one week I’m writing to you again. We have decided with brother Josh Stadnik, our young pastor, to change every week in writing letters to you, and this was the reason that he has addressed you last week and now I am back. And right now as I think of you and of what are your thoughts, how do you feel and what are your plans for future? Has this strange situation that has lasted for so many weeks already caused you any anxiety or fear?
But I want to assure you that if you feel in any way anxious or troubled — you are not alone. If you feel that the situation is hopeless — you are not in this by yourself. Or maybe your thoughts are that we should praise our God, for all of us are healthy and are not in hospitals? If all your hopes are placed only in the Lord — it’s wonderful, and I believe that also in this you are also not alone.
You know what I have in mind saying that in all this you are not alone? All of us go thorough the same experiences, and our feelings of anxiety are very human and all of us can be so grateful to the Lord for what He gives us every day. I’d like to share with you some words from the Scripture that you know for sure but they are so beautiful and recently started to mean much more for me than before. This is apostle Peter who writes in his epistle: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) This is really beautiful. But maybe someone will think that it is so easy to say something like this – how to trust the Lord so much? But there is the answer for such questions. It will be enough to read the previous sentence.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
(1 Peter 5:6 NIV). Did you noticed what Peter is saying here? He says that to cast all our anxiety on God, we must humble ourselves. And with this we always have the greatest problem. Why?
For we trust ourselves too much! Our pride is a roadblock for us, stopping us in 100% in coming to God for help. But if we’ll come to Him and will put on Him our anxieties, our troubles, He will:
— give us the courage to face our cares honestly and not run away (Isaiah 41:10): “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (NKJV)
— give us the wisdom to understand the situation, as James writes in his letter (James 1:5): “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (NKJV)
— give us the strength to do what we must do, as apostle Paul writes to Philippians (4:13): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)
— give us the faith to trust Him to do the rest (Psalm 37:5): “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this”. (NIV)
Coming back to our main verse from the letter of Peter, I want to quote to you a beautiful comment by Martin Luther. And let it be my ending wish for you – all of God’s blessings.
“You have the kind of promise that makes you sure that God does not forsake you, but that He cares about you. Therefore forget about all your anxiety, and let Him manage. These are exceedingly delightful words”.
Comments