Tug-A-War

                                                             1 Peter 5:7
                                                 Casting all your care upon Him,
                                                          for He cares for you

As I was pondering this Scripture, the word "all" stood out among the rest. The Lord is telling us to cast not just some of our care, but all our care upon Him. He wants the care we feel we can handle, the care that seems impossible, and the care that tears at our heartstrings, threatening to rob us of our peace.

I will never forget going through a particularly hard time in my life. After crying until I was exhausted, I finally fell asleep. In a dream I saw the Lord walking up to me with a big white box. As He held the box out to me, He gently said, "Cyndy, put everything that has to do with this situation in the box." I remember putting harsh words spoken and shattered relationships into the box. Then I put the lid on the box and handed it back to Him. As Jesus took the box from me, He took the lid off, and with compassion, said to me, "I said put all that has to do with the situation in the box. You have only put some." He wanted total commitment; I put myself in the box. As He took the box back, He looked at me and spoke these words;

                    "This is the situation. If you will let me have it, I promise to take care of
                      this heartache for you. But, I do not play tug-a-war. If you reach for the
                      box, I will let go and let you have it. Just know, if you take it back there
                      is nothing I can do. Either you will have the box, or I will. If you want me
                      to fix it, give me the box."

Then I woke up. Nothing had changed, the heartache was as real as it had been before falling asleep. But, I knew what I must do. I must give it all to Jesus. From that point on I hung on to His words, "I do not play tug-a-war," as I kept giving the heartache back to Him. True to His promise, and in His perfect way, He brought peace in the midst of turmoil, and joy unspeakable back into my life.

It is only as we are willing to put everything in the box and hand it all to Jesus that we find the peace we so desperately need. How important it is to remember; Jesus knows how to take care of our needs, we only think we know how. As we hand our heartache to Him, He will take what looks impossible to us, and use it for our good, and for His glory.

                      In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you
                      have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith,
                      being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by
                      fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus
                      Christ.                                                                             __1 Peter1:6-7