Load Up Your Hook
Right now, as you look ahead, do you feel uncertain about the future? Maybe it is one big thing that weighs heavily on you. Or quite possibly, it is simply the shaky ground that this volatile world wobbles upon that has you feeling unsettled.
We often employ many techniques, even at times trying to bury our heads in the sand, to lessen the uncertainty we feel. But’s let’s be honest, none of those ways work too well. For a few minutes, a few hours, many even a few days, we feel better, but soon, that anxiety, those burdens, the uncertainty, once again keeps us awake at night.
Let me offer what I believe is a better solution. One that promises a better result. It first requires you to put your trust in Jesus, giving Him control in your life.
It then requires giving Jesus access to every aspect of your life, unrestricted entry into every room. Oh my, you say. Yes, every aspect. And trust me, that takes practice and more practice and even more practice. I am still working this one out in my own life. God has much to say about this subject. Let’s dig in.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8a). And, in v.10 we read – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
So, we are called to trust (submit) ourselves to God, turn from the world – this does not mean isolation or living in a bubble – and, in return, God draws close to us.
Let’s keep digging.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
When you see a verse begin with “therefore,” you need to ask, “what is it there for?” It requires reading the previous verse(s) to get the context. In this case, v.5 ends like this… “Clothe yourself, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
It is also important to understand what “casting” means. The Greek word used in v.7 referenced above means “to throw upon or to place upon.” The implication of that is a game changer. We are to cast our burdens, place our burdens, throw our burdens, upon Jesus, and NOT take them back. It implies a permanent exchange!
Now let’s dig even deeper. “Clothe yourself.” It is an infrequently used phrase that refers to a slave putting on an apron before serving his or her master. What I see being inferred here is that we are to imitate Jesus, who humbled himself by putting on an apron before washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-17). And why humility? Because, throughout scripture we are told that God’s provision of grace is to the submissive (humble) and His opposition is toward the proud. We read in Proverbs 3:34 – “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.”
So, right now, load up your hook with your anxiety, your burdens, your nagging uncertainty, admit your need (humility) for Jesus to be in control of your life (submit), and cast your line into the water, permanently giving that anxiety, those burdens, that uncertainty, to Him. As we often are, we are prompted to ask why. Why give it all over to Jesus? Maybe let these two passages be your answer –
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).
And, also, right now, Jesus is whispering these hopeful words in your ear – “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
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