Lately, I've been pondering the many facets of Psalms 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”
I've never liked the word cast. Casting conjures up memories of fishing as a child. I'd cast the fishing line, watch the bobber dip and dance, and eventually the fishing line floated back to me. When I cast my cares to the Lord, I don't want them floating back to me.
Being a Bible nerd, I researched the meaning of the word cast in the Bible and the original Hebrew. In Hebrew, cast comes from the root word shalak, meaning: to hurl, fling, banish, shed, or abandon. Shalak is an imperative- a command (not a suggestion) to banish or abandon our burdens to the Lord and keep banishing our burdens to God. I prefer the idea of hurling, banishing, or abandoning my burdens into God's capable hands.
There's No Crying in Baseball
My neighbor's son plays Little League baseball. Most afternoons, we hear the rhythmic thud, thud, thud, as he hurls the baseball on the side of his brick and catches it as it bounces back. Other times, he hurls the ball at his dad. His dad grins in delight at the opportunity to spend time with his son (and the speed of his throws).
Theologian F.B. Meyer suggests, "God imposes burdens, to see what we will do with them. We may carry them to our undoing, or we may cast them on Him for his blessed countenance."
Our Heavenly Father desires to spend time with us and for us to hurl our problems into His capable hands. Whether we toss him a fastball or a curve ball, He can handle it.
Jesus, Coffee, & Naps
Since entering the boxing ring as a rare illness warrior, I tell people, "I get by each day with Jesus, coffee, and afternoon naps."
Naps are the way I recharge my body. N.A.P.S. is also the acronym I created and follow daily with the Lord. Learn how to cast our cares on the Lord in four simple steps.
We will use the acronym N.A.P.S. (Don't we all need extra rest ?😉)
N.A.P.S.
Name the problem, burden, or anxiety without judgment.
Acknowledge the need for God's presence in our life.
Ponder a promise found in Scripture. I recommend beginning with Psalms.
Surrender the burden to God in prayer.
My Real-Life Example of N.A.P.S. (from 2016)
Name the problem. I needed genetic testing that cost $1,000. Our insurance did not cover the genetic testing. My prolonged medical leave of absence drained our finances.
Acknowledge God's presence. I prayed. "Lord, like Hagar in the desert, you see me. You know my needs. Please provide the money for genetic testing. I trust you have a plan for me. Amen."
Ponder a promise. "For every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills." (Psalm 50:10). I wrote this verse in my journal, placed a sticky note on the fridge, and posted it on my Facebook page.
Surrender in prayer. "Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You know our needs. Would you sell some cattle for your girl? Amen."
Hours later, a friend from Bible study asked to visit me for coffee. During our visit, she pulled out her checkbook and mentioned the real reason for her visit. That morning, God nudged her heart to visit me and to write me a check for $1,000. (God was the only person who knew about my previous request). I cried and shared with her my need for genetic testing and our draining finances. Her obedience to follow the nudge of the Holy Spirit was my answer to prayer.
Friend, what burdens do you need to cast or hurl to God? What areas of life do you need to name, acknowledge, ponder, and surrender?
Hugs & Hope,
~April Dawn White
© 2024 April Dawn White
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