How to Cast Your Cares on God

The Bible is replete with stories of great men and women who, in their most difficult times, turned to God for help and those who refused to do so. Just like in Bible days, certain occurrences do not stop happening and this has birthed the question in many believers - How do I cast my cares on God?

Let’s examine a few scriptures.

• “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.” - Genesis 12:10
• “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great” - Genesis 26:12-13

For the second Bible verse up there, it was the year of famine, yet, God told Isaac to stay. For Abraham, the response was different - He was allowed to move to a better land. The baseline of obedience for both men was that they trusted that God knew what was best for them. 

In our society today, there is a famine-like economy, a famine-like culture, and a famine-like value system all raging to swallow the believer. Yet, we must realise that every individual has their modus operandi with God and for their success. What then must be our response? 

1. Understand that Trust in God is a Believer’s response to Famine

No matter what happens, the believer must realise that trust should be their go-to response to famine. Not trust in the system, trust in the government or trust in a political candidate but trust in God. You must build a consciousness that trust in God is the best response to famine.

God is able to take care of all that you need for a beautiful life. For the Christian, situations like famine, sickness, poverty or hunger should not move you because God can make the ravens feed you. This means that regardless of how tight the economy might be, God is able to make the loins of kings loosen unto you. 

Studies have shown that ravens are stingy and very greedy types of birds, yet Elijah was fed by them (1 Kings 17:2-6). For you, this should help you understand that if it will take the person who hates you the most to give to you, it will come. For the believer who is a student, if it means that the most wicked teacher will give you the highest grade possible, then, it must happen.

In your consciousness of trust in God, the believer must also take note that not everybody has the same response to the same problem. Just like Abram and Isaac, Abram went to a strange land to sojourn in the time of famine, yet, he prospered but for Issac, the same did not work for him. He was required to stay. Likewise for the believer, learn to know what God will have you do per time and don't follow the crowd in your actions. 

Just because everyone is leaving a job for a particular one does not mean you have to do the same, because everyone is praying to get a placement at a particular state does not mean you have to do the same, because people are leaving a country to reside somewhere else does not mean you do the same and of course, for someone who God has told to move, don't despise others who are staying. Our response to famine is to trust God not to copy others.

2. Sacrifice your Lifestyle 

Casting all your cares on Him requires learning how to let go of everything, including your money, time and every other resource. Trust is the basis for this ability to let go, so trust that God's word is true; let God be true and let every other person, other emotions, and other thoughts be the lies.

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” - Psalm 55:22

When you place all of your concerns on God, you cannot be shaken and when the Bible says the Lord will sustain you, it means He really will do so and the sustenance of the Lord is not a one-time subscription. It is for life!

Imagine a scenario where you don't have to worry about a single thing for the rest of your life - that is what sacrifice does to you.

Christ loved you and gave Himself for you so you can be sure that if you give yourself as a sacrifice to Him, withholding nothing, you will reap much more than you can ever imagine. Know fully well that no matter how big your giving might be to you, you can never out-give God. 

3. Pray

“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” - Philippians 4:6 (MSG)

Prayer is the way for the believer to get supernatural help. When you're overwhelmed and it seems like everything is about to sink you in, remember your response - to trust which then propels you to pray. You can't pray when you can not trust so, no matter what happens to you, keep your trust in God and His promises to you intact. Pray till the emotions of victory and peace settle in your heart, finish up every situation in prayers and do not grumble. 

Get to the end of that situation in prayers and place God right there - For instance, what happens if you fail that exam? What happens if you pass that exam? At the end of both responses, place God right there and you'll see that it does not bother you anymore.

A Call to Stop Worrying

Matthew 1: 18-21 (KJV)

 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost ....."

As humans on earth we face situations which requires us to make decisions as we feels right in our mind. Now we are left with the question of "how does those decisions (or judgments) affect us in the long run?" This is because those decisions that seem wise today might become a stumbling block tomorrow!

You might now be thinking “why shouldn’t I now worry the more?”  In fact, I’ve heard some people say that the level of temptation we face today is higher compared with the days of our father’s, yet, the bible says we should be of good cheer for he has overcome the world (John 16:33). So, it’s not a matter of what you are facing daily that is creating the worries within you, but, the challenge is "what do you have that can help you stand against the wiles of the devil?"

In the bible passage we read above we saw two certain people – brother Joseph and sister Mary – who have propose to marry each other, and I believe they are engaged, but, yet to be married.

One beautiful day Joseph and Mary seems to have decided to meet, but shockingly, Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. I believe Joseph never knew it was of the Holy Ghost, probably until Mary now tried to convince him.

As a normal human being, especially during the time of the old covenant (laws of Moses), when the Holy spirit has not been made known to people -- since Christ has not yet been glorified (John 7:39) -- this must have caused serious worries and heartbreak to Joseph, creating various thoughts in his heart like, “I thought she was a virtuous and God fearing sister but, how can human being be so deceiving? We’ve been reading and hearing of miracle babies like Sarah’s, Samson's, but, this one is strange!, in fact who is this Holy Ghost?” and been a Just man according to the scriptures – meaning “a righteous and upright man, one that obeys and keeps God’s commandments faithfully” – considering his reputation in the synagogue and his neighborhood, also knowing the law that such an occurrence can cost the life of Mary and the baby (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), yet, without the full knowledge of what was going on with Mary, his best plan was to end the relationship secretly (matt 1:19). This would have been the best any man could actually think of, but, it could also cause the prophecy of Christ coming through the lineage of David to have been altered, and who knows what would have happened. While he slept, the angel of the lord revealed the truth to him "....God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married....”, that is to show us that, why it seems we are not hearing God during difficult times is because the noise going on in our heart can be a distraction for us not to notice God’s voice, or probably because our hearts are not open.

To fellow believers today, I truly may not know what your worries are, perhaps you are a business man and you’ve applied all possible wisdom, yet, you don’t know why every thing seems to be crumbling, or you’re a student and you feel worried because you don’t know what the future holds for you, seeing the economic situation is not even motivating, or you feel hopeless, or sick, or you know someone at the point of death and there seems to be no cure, worry not! 

Perhaps you go about seeking solutions without (outside), to the worries and depressions you are experiencing within. I’ll advice you to wait right there and think about these two  things; 

First, how’s your relationship with God? Joseph could partake In heavens project and get instructions from God because he was walking with God (Gen 6:9). 

Secondly, if you are born again, you have the Holy Spirit (John 14:26,4:14, 100% God, third person Trinity) living inside of you, greater than legions of angel (Heb 1:14), and “he has come to work for you” according to Kenneth W. Hagins, hence, you need not to worry. So, what then is the way out?

Way out!

In Matthew 1:20 (MSG), we read that while Joseph was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream where God's angel spoke to him saying: “Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate...” Just like Joseph, the only way out of your worries is simple - “Don’t hesitate”. Stop taking a pause to think about your problems. Instead, take the next step! You have access to the word of God (the bible), books and teachings of men of God whose lives are testimonies of what they teach, sit on it, study it, meditate and pray on it, be open to His (God) leading, then act based on what God lays on your heart. As the bible says "...the just shall live by faith" and "....faith without works is dead" (Romans 1:17, James 2:26). Kenneth E. Hagin once said “faith is acting like God’s word is true” (numbers 23:19). Therefore brethren, don’t keep sitting, act! Take the next step with faith according to the  word of God and you will see yourself overcoming your situation.

Before you go!

I’d like you to know that God only leads his children (Romans 8:14). That said, I would love to ask if you are born again. Are you saved? Hope your name is in the book of life? If you are still doubting it, it shows you have to accept him into your life today, and be among the partakers of the earthly joy and eternal peace. Confess your sins, forsake those evil ways, tell him (Jesus) to cleanse you and ask for his grace to lead you on because he loves you. Say this simple prayer of salvation here and we’d be glad to follow up with you.