April 29, 2023: Take A Load Off

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6–7, ESV)

Everyone is aware of what it means to be stressed. We become stressed when we carry burdens or loads we were never meant to carry. We also become stressed when we try to carry heavy obligations in our own strength. Fear causes stress too.
    
One of the biggest causes of stress is responsibility. Responsibility means 'the buck stops' with you. By nature, responsibility is weighty. It means that other people are counting on you to do something. Some people are designed to carry more responsibility than others. What is important is that we learn to recognize our limits and call upon God.
    
Ultimately the key to living free of stress is to trust God more. When we try to carry things in our own strength, we are operating in a spirit of pride. This is why Peter exhorts us to humble ourselves before God. When you humble yourself before God, you acknowledge that you need His strength.
    
What is needed is for us to cast off (throw down) what we are carrying. Some translations say, "Roll all your cares over onto Jesus..." The picture is that of a soldier rolling off his back the heavy duffel he has been carrying. Therefore I say to you today, "Roll all of your cares over onto Jesus because He cares for you!"