Carrying or Casting? Our Choice in the Midst of Pandemic

The situation we now face is enough to send each of us over the edge with anxiety and fear. We have no idea how this will all go globally, nationally, and personally. We watch it all unfold as our government officials and staff spell out what they know day by day.

It is then that we have to remember we have a choice. Will we carry the weight of these facts and predictions? Or will we cast our care, fling our anxieties on Him who is on the throne of heaven because He cares for us?

I have a recurring image that helps me in times when I’m tempted to carry my burdens on my own instead of casting myself and my cares on Him —  

It began in worship one Sunday years ago.  I was struggling emotionally about some issue.  Then out of the blue, I had a sense, not a literal vision, but rather a picture in my spirit.  The picture was of Jesus and me climbing a mountain.  He had me by the hand and was carrying a "Santa-like" sack on His back.

Suddenly He stopped climbing and turned to me saying, "We can't go up any higher until you throw that burden you are carrying into my sack.  You need to let ME carry it!"

So I threw it in!  And oh, the JOY and peace...and we kept climbing together!

Now often when I'm struggling with an offense, a disappointment, a crisis, whatever, I see and hear my Traveling Companion, my Guide, my Empowering Savior say, "Okay, Jan, throw it in!  We can't go any higher if you don't!"

And when I throw my burden in Jesus' sack, freedom and JOY flood my soul!  Then we can go on climbing hand in hand together. Why?  Because...

...the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

How about you?  How are you handling the stress of our current crisis? Are you anxious about your health, your senior loved ones, your finances? You fill in the blank ……………………! You have burdens that you weren't meant to carry, dear friend.  Throw them into Jesus' sack!  Return to JOY and keep on climbing hand in hand with Him!



Lord, take me higher and higher in my experience of YOU and all there is of Your Fulness!  The world has a downward drag!  Especially now with all of this uncertainty and danger.
But I cling to You. I chose to rejoice in my Risen, Indwelling Son of God! 
Amen!

...casting all your care upon HIM, for He cares for YOU. 
1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. 
Psalm 55:22 NIV

BUT

Cast not away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Hebrews 10:35

It is God's will that I should cast
On Him my care each day;
He also bids me not to cast
My confidence away.
But oh, I am so foolish
That when taken unawares,
I cast away my confidence
And carry all my cares.
T. Baird

Amen