“CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON HIM” 

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1st Peter 5:6-11, ESV) 

I grew up attending St. Jude Catholic Church in Beloit, Wisconsin. I’ll always remember the Bible verse painted over the archway that led from the worship area to the narthex: “Cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you”—verse 7 above. Sometimes handing our cares and problems to the Lord—seeking his help, trusting his wisdom, staying mindful of his love—goes a bit like the caught student “handing over” the note she tried to pass to her friend: she extends her arm to give the teacher the note, then she pulls back and tries to keep it, afraid of the teacher’s reaction when he reads it. We know God can help us: it’s just that it’s our nature to try to keep ahold of the reins ourselves. But our loving God knows that too. He can help us let him help. 

Now as Lutherans I believe we have an excellent tool for heeding the apostle’s exhortation: “Humble yourselves…under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” (verse 6 above). It’s called Confession and Absolution (or, if you prefer the “vernacular,” Confession and Forgiveness). We recognize as well as any other Christians, maybe even a little better, that all persons are “poor miserable sinners.” Admitting that, and spilling our spiritual guts out to God, allows us to stand humbly before our Father—who, as we know, can’t wait to say, “Put a ring on his finger! Put sandals on her feet…!” 

Whether the enemy is tempting us to stray from godly living; or to suspend loving treatment of others; or stirring up skepticism or hostility to the Word of Christ; or seeking to mess up congregations using the strategy called “divide and conquer,” we recall our brother George Duffield Jr’s word of encouragement: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Stand in his strength alone. The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own…” (LSB 660:3). We know we can trust his, though: and if we stay constant in prayer and in God’s Word, we have the strength of Christ on our side. 

While all this is surely easier said than done, our living Lord channels grace to us so that we grow as his disciples, and encourage one another—in the midst of temptation, pandemic, crazy gas prices, and whatever else life throws at us. May our outlandishly loving Lord fortify our faith, hope, love, joy and peace (all rooted and grounded in Jesus), thus putting smiles on the “face” of our heavenly Father. And may he keep us always growing by the tireless work of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.