Dear CPC Flock,

In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter called his readers to cast “all your anxieties on [God], because he cares for you.” The Apostle Peter wrote these words to a struggling church. In addition to the difficulties of living in the 1st century—plagues, barbarians, and recessions—Believers were also being persecuted. Death and despair was everywhere. And Christians were not immune. Their anxieties were many. In the face of trying times, what did Peter tell them to do? Literally, throw their cares upon God. Like you might heave a saddle on a horse’s back, that’s what these struggling Christians were to do with their concerns. Let them rest upon the Lord and not themselves.

We live in a world where people are naturally disquieted due to health concerns, economic difficulties, relational tension, and more. The events over the past few weeks at CPC and more nationally may have filled many of us with doubt and distress. In recent weeks we have lost one of our youngest members and our oldest. And then, the assassination of Charlie Kirk has affected many. And that doesn’t include other burdens we bear. We can find ourselves crushed under the weight of a thousand issues—our own and others. However, Peter tells us to hoist these things upon the Lord.The cares we have about our futures, finances, and feelings of uncertainty, we are to give to God. The worries we have about our nation, we are to let him bear them.

Why are we to do this? Peter declares, “… because he cares for you.” The Apostle is saying, “Lay your burdens on the Lord, because not only is he able to carry them, but he is willing. Your cares are his cares. He loves you and will gladly take them. He will support you in the whelming flood.” Do we need proof that God will do this? The Father loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things. (Romans 8:32)

The question is, do we believe God warmly attends to us? Do we believe it when troubles come our way? Do we believe that God cares when personal or national tragedy hits? Look no further than the Cross. See on Golgotha’s Hill the reason why we, as the people of God, can throw our worries upon the Lord. God in Christ bore our sins. He wants our burdens also. Since Christ can take our sins, surely, he can take our sorrows and struggles. Brothers and sisters, let us be faithful to cast all our cares on Christ’s strong shoulders.

Your Pastor and Friend,

Clif