May 17

Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.—1 Peter 5:7.

AMONG other spiritual secrets, this is one, and a prime one, the combination of lowliness and boldness, humble confidence:

this is the true temper of a child of God towards his great and good Father; nor can any have it, but they who are indeed his children, and have within them that spirit of adoption which he sends into their hearts.

And these two the apostle here joins together: Humble yourselves under the hand of God, and yet cast your care on him: upon that same hand under which you ought to humble yourselves, must you withal cast over all your care; for he careth for you.

1. In the exercise of this confidence in God, we must first see to it, that our desires and cares be brought into a due compass. All childish, vain, needless cares are to be discharged, and, as being unfit to cast on thy God, are to be quite cast out of thy heart. Entertain no care at all but such as thou mayest put into God's hands, and make his on thy behalf; such as he will take off thy hand, and undertake for thee.

All needful lawful care, and that only, will he receive. So then, rid thyself quite of all that thou canst not take this course with, and then, without scruple, take confidently this course with all the rest. Seek a well-regulated, sober spirit. In the things of this life, be content with food and raiment; not delicacies, but food; not ornament, but raiment; and conclude, that what thy Father carves for thee is best for thee, the fittest measure, for he knows it and loves thee wisely. This course our Saviour would have thee take, Matthew 6:31; first, to cut off superfluous care, then to turn over on thy God the care of what is necessary. He will look to that, thou hast him engaged; and he can and will give thee beyond that, if he sees fit.

And as for the issue and success of thy way, let not that trouble thee at all: that is the care he would have thee wholly disburden thyself of, and lay entirely upon him. Do not vex thyself with thinking, how will this and that be, what if this and the other fall out. That is his part wholly, and if thou meddle with it, thou at once displeased him, and disquietest thyself. This sin carries the punishment of it close tied to it. If thou wilt be struggling with that which belongs not to thee, and poising at that burden that is not thine, what wonder, yea, I may say, what pity if thou fall under it? Art thou not well served? Is it not just, that if thou wilt do for thyself, and bear for thyself, what thy Lord calls for to bear for thee, thou shouldst feel the weight of it at thy cost?

But what is the way of this dissolving of my burden? There is a faculty in it that all persons have not: though they would do thus with it, they can not; it lies on them, and they are not able to cast it on God. The way is, doubtless, by praying and believing: these are the hands by which the soul can turn over to God what itself can not bear; all cares, the whole bundle, is most dexterously transferred thus. Be careful for nothing. A great word! Oh, but how shall it be? Why thus, says the apostle, In all things make your requests known unto God, and in a confident cheerful way, supplication mixed with thanksgiving; so shall it be the more lively and active to carry forth, and carry up thy cares, and discharge thee of them, and lay them on God. Whatsoever it is that presses thee, go tell thy Father; put over the matter into his hand, and so shalt thou be free from anxiety, that dividing, perplexing care, that the world is full of.

No more, but when thou art either to do or suffer any thing, when thou art about any purpose or business, go tell God of it, and acquaint him with it; yea, burden him with it, and thou hast done for matter of caring: no more care, but quiet, sweet diligence in thy duty, and dependence on him for the carriage of thy matters. And in this prayer faith acts; it is a believing requesting. Ask in faith, not doubting. So thou rollest over all on him; that is the very proper working of faith, the carrying the soul, and all its desires, out of itself unto God, as expressed Psalms 36:5: roll over on God—make one bundle of all; roll thy cares, and thyself with them, as one burden, all on thy God.

2. Now faith, to do this, stays itself on the promise. It can not move but on firm ground, and the promises are its ground; and for this end is this added, he careth for thee.

This must be established in the heart. 1. The firm belief of the Divine providence, that all things are managed and ruled by it, and that in the highest power and wisdom; that there is no breaking of his purposes, nor resisting his power. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, and the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 2. The belief of his gracious providence to his own people, that he orders all for their true advantage, and makes all different lines and ways concentrate in their highest good; all to meet in that, how opposite soever in appearance. See Romans 8:28. 3. A particular confidence of his good-will towards thee, and undertaking for thee. Now, if this be the question, the promise resolves thee: trust him, and he takes on the trust, and there is no other condition; cast on him thy care, and he takes it on, he cares for thee. His royal word is engaged not to give thee the slip, if thou do really lay it upon him. Cast thy burden upon the Lord—hand it over, heave it upon him—and he shall sustain thee; shall bear both, if thou trust him with both, both thee and thy burden; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

From this subject we infer, that the children of God have the only sweet life. The world thinks not so, rather looks on them as poor, discontented, lowering creatures; but it sees not what an uncaring, truly secure life they are called to. While others are turmoil and wrestling, each with his projects and burdens for himself, and are at length crushed and sinking under them, for that is the end of all that do for themselves, the child of God goes free from the pressure of all that concerns him, it being laid over on his God. If he use his advantage; he is not racked with musings, Oh! what will become of this and that; but goes on in the strength of his God as he may, offers up poor, but sincere endeavors to God, and is sure of one thing, that all shall be well. He lays his affairs and himself on God, and so hath no pressing care; no care but the care of love, how to please, how to honor his Lord. And in this, too, he depends on him, both for skill and strength; and touching the success of things, he leaves that as none of his to be burdened with, casts it on God, and since he careth for it, they need not both care, his care alone is sufficient. Hence springs peace, inconceivable peace. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Jesus Christ.