Cast Your Cares

In a sermon on prayer, pastor Dan Ivins spoke about the fear that he sometimes felt at night as a child. He said that he used to wake up and hear a squeaky floor and he’d assume, “burglar.” Or, he’d feel the window rattle and think “tornado.” Whenever that happened, he would get up and run to his parent’s room. “I’d reach up and touch my Daddy’s hand and everything was all right,” he remarked. “I didn’t have to say anything or even wake him up. That touch—the assurance that Daddy was there was enough to allow me to go back to my room and go to sleep. That’s why we pray and don’t lose heart. That’s what prayer is—reaching out to touch God…”

We all have moments in our lives when we feel worried or fearful: What will the diagnosis be? Will my son be okay? What’s going to happen to Mom? How are we going to make ends meet? Will I always feel this bad? 

While there are no promises that prayer will solve our problems, prayer does put us in touch with a Higher Power. Prayer does open the lines of communication with God. And it is the experience of many, that the claim of the psalmist is true, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and God will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)

Let us pray: God of Grace, we ask for an upwelling of hope that in the midst of life’s joys and troubles, we would know, without a doubt, that you are present, that you are with us, and that you are faithful. We turn over to you now any confusing or troubling issues that we face – and we ask for your mercy and for your guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.