“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” –Psalm 55:22

This morning, I went to the woods.  I walked slowly, inhaling the pungent aroma of awakening earth, thankful for the warmth of the sunlight as it shone on my face.  

I cast my cares on the Lord beneath open skies as regularly as possible.  Sometimes, I list my worries one by one.  At other times, I imagine opening my heart and letting the One who sees every part of me wash away the concerns that are weighing too heavily.

I need this space daily.

Most likely, you do too.

What does it look like to cast our cares on God?  Today, I’ll share the process I use when I go to the woods.  Let it serve as a guide to help you release your burdens to him as well.

4 Steps to Cast Your Cares on God

First, cast your cares on God by specifically naming your concern.  What is bothering you or weighing heavily on you?  We cannot surrender what we have not first identified.  By naming our emotions we begin the process of calming our central nervous systems, which better enables us to connect with God.

Second, after naming the concern, it’s time to dig deeper.  Your emotions are God-given, and he is inviting you to approach these emotions with curiosity and compassion.  What’s beneath your troubling emotions?  Are you afraid of rejection, failing, being misunderstood, or experiencing pain?  Are you afraid some worst-case scenario will ruin your life, or are you afraid God will abandon you?

Ask God to show you what’s beneath your worries and troubled thoughts.  He might reveal a deeper root he wants to pull out, a wound he wants to heal, or a lie you’ve been believing.  Talk to him about whatever you sense he is showing you.

Third, after exploring the roots beneath your emotions, imagine yourself heaving your cares and concerns onto God.  I find it interesting that Scripture tells us to cast our cares onto the Lord.  We’re not told to lift them gently.  God knows our worries aren’t easy to get rid of.  For this reason, he tells us to cast them away.

Imagine throwing your worry onto God.  Imagine his strong arm reaching down to take the worry from you.  He wants to lighten your load and fill you with peace.

Lastly, it’s time to stand on God’s Word.  Our emotions are helpful signposts, but they are not anchors in life’s storms. God’s Word is a secure anchor for the storms of life.  We can turn to his Word for peace on even the darkest, most tumultuous days.

Memorize a Bible verse that speaks specifically to your circumstances and repeat it every time your troubling emotions return.  God’s Word is a weapon, and we can use it to find victory over the lies that infiltrate our minds. 

Here are some Scriptures to hide in your heart for troubled times:

• Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10, ESV).

• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

• Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34).

Reflection on Psalm 55:22

What is the heaviest care in your life today?  Take a few minutes to walk through the four steps described in today’s reading as you aim to exchange stress for peace.  What Bible verse can you speak when you feel overwhelmed by this concern in the future?  

Closing Prayer

Lord God, thank you for your promise to walk with us always, carrying our burdens and giving us strength for each day.  Today, I give you my heaviest burdens.  I cast these cares on you and trust that you will care for me and sustain me.  I receive your peace instead of dwelling on anxious and worried thoughts.  Amen.

Find the Book

This devotion is from Stacey Pardoe’s newest book Be Still and Trust: 50 Devotions for Peace, Rest, and Renewal.  The secret to finding rest in God is establishing a daily rhythm that makes this time habitual, a routine that becomes as natural as eating, drinking, and sleeping. Be Still and Trust offers 50 devotions for those who long for rest and renewal—devotions for peace in our hurried and stress-filled lives.  Find it here.  Connect with Stacey on her blog here.