Cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
There is a profound wisdom that spiritual leaders often ignore: simplicity. Keep the message simple, keep the message clear, keep the message consistent. We are living in anxious times with great uncertainty about the future. Cast all your anxiety on God. Fear-filled messages focus on negativity, and dire predictions elevate our own apprehensions. Cast all your anxiety on God. Grief over loss of loved ones, loneliness through physical separation, and extended isolation fuels despair and depression. Cast all your anxiety on God.
But in what way is it a solution to cast all your anxiety on God? Because God cares for you. In your fear, in your worry, in your nervousness about tomorrow – God cares for you. When you are frightened by the latest news report and you begin to lose hope – God cares for you. When you grieve, when you feel panic, when you feel desolate and lonely – God cares for you.
We may be looking for some complex and sophisticated formula that will carry us through this pandemic period, but it is time to cut through all the confusion and remember a significant and simple truth: cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you.
Blessed Father, Mother, Parent God, receive your children who need the simple reassurance of your loving care. Wrap us in your love, comfort us by your Spirit, and strengthen us in our faith that we might face tomorrow with courage, conviction, and hope. We ask this humbly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Author
Hee-Soo Jung
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has served as resident bishop of the Wisconsin Annual Conference since September of 2012. Prior to leading the Wisconsin Conference UMC, Bishop Jung served eight years as bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference (Chicago area).