One of my favorite things about writing down my devotionals is that I can come back to them and see how much (or in this case, how little) I’ve grown. I wrote this in 2011 – and the words convicted me this morning every bit as much as three years ago.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

One of my favorite songs as a child was the “Cares Chorus”. The theme for the song is taken from this verse in 1 Peter. I needed to be reminded that God cares for me today. When I’m feeling particularly vulnerable, I sing this song and it helps me put things back in perspective. It doesn’t matter what others think. It doesn’t matter if I don’t feel I’m getting the recognition I “deserve” or at least what I want. Scripture is quite clear. Humble yourself. Literally, place yourself lower than another. Mentally I need to get to a place where I stop comparing myself – better or worse – to other people, and instead compare myself to the only One who matters. Christ. And by that measure, none of us are anywhere close to worthy.  By His standard, we all fail miserably every single day. So what right do I have to puff up my chest and proclaim how awesome I am? None. Zero. Zilch.

Instead of being concerned about this or that, who said what and why, I need to take my cares and chuck them at the feet of my Savior. To watch troubles vanish as I release them to my Lord who knows exactly what He is doing. If I’m still trying to manage life the way I will it, all the concerns that go with running the show land squarely on my shoulders. If I feel that it’s my responsibility to make everyone like me – that stress will overwhelm everything else in my life as I focus on “fixing” every single little thing. Instead, I need to let go. Understanding that as much as it is possible, I should live at peace with others. Ultimately though, that only when I allow God to manage the cares of this world, including the ones in my own life, will I find true and lasting peace. It’s a hard thing for me. Cause I’m a control freak. Letting God do it means I don’t have the right to make demands on the time schedule. I’ve found in the past that the Lord has a lot more patience than I do.

Really, I feel like I’m asking  God for my cares back. Like a two-year old “sharing” a toy. They’ll give it away, but immediately regret the decision and snatch it into their own possession again. I try to give things over to the Lord, but then somehow finagle them back again. I become attached to my concerns in life. I want to keep them, hold on to them. Keep my eye on God’s progress in dealing with stuff. Really letting go is scary. It requires me to trust that God’s resolution is better than mine could ever be. That He has a plan that knocks all my desires out of the park. I’ve seen it happen in the past. I know He’s able. That when I don’t know what to do, He does. And will do it perfectly. Whatever “it” is. (sigh) Why is this so hard for me? Song time.