In 480 B.C. the outmanned army of Sparta's King Leonidas held off the Persian troops of Xerxes by fighting them one at a time as they came through a narrow mountain pass. Commenting on this strategy, C.H. Spurgeon said, "Suppose Leonidas and his handful of men had gone out into the wide-open plain and attacked the Persians--why, they would have died at once, even though they might have fought like lions." Spurgeon continued by saying that Christians stand in the narrow pass of today. If they choose to battle every difficulty at once, they're sure to suffer defeat. But if they trust God and take their troubles one by one, they will find that their strength is sufficient.
Worry is one of the biggest problems facing today’s society. And sad to say, it’s one of the biggest problems facing the church. Experts tell us that the average person’s anxiety is focused on: 40% - things that will never happen; 30% - things about the past that can’t be changed; 12% - things about criticism by others, mostly untrue; 10% - about health, which gets worse with stress; and 8% - about real problems that will be faced. That’s 92% of our worries are about things that we have no control over or aren’t real problems to be concerned about. There’s no reason whatsoever for us to kill ourselves with stress and worry. Now if we’ll follow our text verse and cast upon Christ everything that would cause us anxiety, think of the lower stress levels – think of the lower suicide rate – think of the lower blood pressures – think of the lower valium consumption. Bill Harvey’s little chorus says, “Fret not – He’s watching over you. Fret not – The Lord will see you through. Fret not – you’re sure to stand the test. Commit and trust – delight and rest.”
Take a look at Matthew 6:25-34. There are in these verses six warnings against worry. “Take no thought” – six times. “Be not anxious for your life,” Christ is telling them. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Now look at Proverbs 10:22 – “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – “But the Lord is faithful.” There are many other verses that command us not to be fearful. For example, Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful [or anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Bring it to Jesus and cast it on Him. He takes great pleasure in handling your problems for you.
Many of us allow worry to consume us – we let worry turn to fear – and fear is the result of trying to look at God through your circumstances. But what God honors is faith – turning your anxieties over to Him is faith – and faith is the result of looking at your circumstances through God! There’s a big difference between a burden and a worry. When a burden begins to rob you of the joy of the Lord, then it’s a sin. Romans 14:23 tells us, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Did you know that every time you worry you display a lack of faith and that is sin? But if you’ll cast every care upon Him, then you are displaying faith. Did you know that worry and anxiety lead to fearfulness? – and “perfect love casteth out fear (1 John 4:18).”
Whether it be a fear, or a burden, or a worry, or a care – whether it be one of those things that we worry about that will never happen – whether it be one of those things about the past that we can’t change – whether it be one of those untrue criticisms by others – whether it be a concern about a health issue that compounds with stress – whether it be a real problem or an imagined problem – “Cast all your cares upon [Jesus] for He careth for you.”
Quote – “Cast all your cares on Him – casting signifies a rolling – you can roll many a burden you can’t lift.” – Dr. John McCormick
