When I am going through a difficult time, I often reach out to dear friends. As I share my struggles and heartaches, I am not looking for them to make me feel better or to say something to encourage me or uplift me. I simply want their presence. I simply want to know that I am not alone and that they care that I am hurting. Did you know that 1 Peter reveals that we not only have a God who is all-powerful and all-knowing, but we also have a God who is with us? Even more, He cares about us and the struggles we are facing.
Peter offers this lifeline of hope for those going through difficult times: God cares about us. Yesterday, we saw that Peter warns readers against the tactics of Satan in 1 Peter 5:8. Because this topic may lead Christ-followers to worry, right before he wrote about the enemy and his schemes, he said, "Give all of your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you" (verse 7). In light of the hardships that we face every day and the tactics of the enemy who is scheming against us, Peter issued an invitation not to worry. He issued this invitation because God cares about us. He cares about the things we care about. What concerns us concerns Him. Because our God cares deeply for us, we can trust that He is in control and working in our lives, even when we cannot see it. We can rest and trust Him to take care of us.
As Peter wrote the words, "Give all your worries and cares to God," I cannot help but think that the words that Peter heard Jesus say in Matthew 11, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (verses 28-29). Jesus offers rest for our anxious, weary souls because He cares about us.
Whatever you are worried about, from big to small circumstances, He cares about you. He cares about the things that you are concerned about. May you find deep comfort and peace knowing that the God of the universe, your God, cares deeply for you. You are so loved. May you rest in His deep, personal love and care for you today.
Take your cares and worries to God today. Tell Him about the concerns that are weighing heavily on your heart. From big concerns to concerns that seem minute, He cares. He wants to hear from you, and anything that concerns you concerns Him. May you find peace as you lay all of your worries and concerns before Him, who cares so deeply for you.
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
