I have a wonderful friend who was a single mom for many years. Her daughter had no relationship with her biological father, and one day when she was old enough, she expressed to her mother her deep sadness about not having a father.
Her mom, who has a strong faith in Christ, took her daughter’s hands in her face and said, “Honey, I know. I know it’s so sad. But I promise you, God is your father.”
“I know that,” her little girl said through tear-filled eyes, “but sometimes you just want someone with skin on.”
Out of the mouths of babes.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”
At least, that’s how I remember memorizing it as a kid. The English Standard Version says, in context with verse 6, “ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Although “anxieties” is definitely a better word to describe what I bring to the Lord in prayer these days, the phrase cast your cares is still how I remind myself to do it. (I swear I can see the illustration from my childhood Precious Moments Bible in my mind’s eye as I write that.)
Like my friend told her daughter, God is our Father. And like the Scriptures tell us, we are to be “anxious for nothing” but “pray about everything” and indeed, cast our cares upon Him. He is always listening, always loving, always planning the very best for us. Even when the very best hurts. However, sometimes, it’s hard to cast your cares up to heaven and hear nothing back.
Like my friend’s precious child said…sometimes you just wanna cast your cares onto someone with skin on.
And you know what? Our Lord understands that. When God took on human form in the person of Jesus Christ, He did not walk this earth alone. He surrounded himself with in-the-flesh disciples. He cried out to God in the garden, but He took some flesh and blood friends along for support. God does not expect us to walk through our fires and troubles alone. The truth is, His grace IS sufficient, but because He is so, so good to us, He gives us the gift of Christian friends with skin on to give us wise counsel when we need it. Indeed in the Scripture we are commanded to help each other in this way, when Paul says in Galatians 6, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
I think that in Christian motherhood, it is especially important to have mom friends on whom you can cast your cares.
Last Sunday I met with a friend after church, just to basically exchange some items with each other. But when she sat down with me at a table in our church’s community room, she looked into my eyes and said, “I need you to pray for me.” The quick drop off of items was forgotten, and I settled in to listen as she unloaded her burdens, as she cast her cares. It was a blessing, a gift to share that with her, to be able to go to the Lord in pray on her behalf. Yes, she was seeking God, yes, she was praying, yes, she was giving her worries to Him…but she also really needed to give them to a Christian mom friend she could trust. Someone with skin on.
My dear mamas, if you are struggling in motherhood, in life, in mental health, I implore you to cast your cares on the Lord, and seek out a trusted, wise Christian mom friend who will seek His will with you and for you. We were not made to do motherhood alone, and thank the Lord we have Christ as our partner! But I’m also so thankful that we have each other.
If you don’t have at least one good mom friend to cast your cares on, seek one out.
I know making and meeting mom friends can be hard, especially for introverts, but in hard times, these ladies can be a lifeline. In easy times, it will be your turn to be someone else’s lifeline. In any times, we can build each other up as we work to be in God’s Word and will as we mother our kids, go to our jobs, serve in our community, and invest in our marriages. You need support. I need support. If you don’t have it, ask God for it and actively seek it. Get involved in a moms group or a MOPS group at church. Put yourself out there and find some other people with skin on to cast cares with.
Seek and you will find, my friend. If you have a wonderful mom friend or two, let them know how thankful you are for them. If you don’t, start asking God to meet that need in your life, and be ready to receive with gladness.
