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.
