Where We May and Should Go with All Our Cares

Rev. A.M. den Boer (1929-2004)

The Lord has taught us in His most perfect prayer to ask Him each day for our daily bread. Next month the churches will gather to ask the Lord for His blessing in the season which is before us. Herein it is shown that we are totally dependent upon the Lord who is the Creator of heaven and earth. We may not deny that in God’s common goodness we receive many temporal blessings wherein believers and unbelievers may take part. Still we may not forget that true believers are the corks upon which the countries float. Are we such a cork? I know we do not feel that in our hearts, but by the prayer which the Lord gives, true believers become the corks of the country.

How necessary it is to ask the Lord for help and guidance; this cannot be missed. For each breath, for each meal, in the home, on the way, in school, or at work, our whole life is dependent upon the Lord. Without Him we can do nothing. Is this our feeling also? Prayer Day is a confession of our dependency on the Lord in all things, for to whom else shall we go? This was also the experience of the Apostle Peter. He was a man who received much grace from the Lord, and he became a well-known apostle. By his rich experience he could encourage the churches in tribulations. He emphasized that it is not a dishonor to be persecuted for Christ’s sake, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed” (1 Peter 4:16a). This should not alarm God’s people too much although it may be a difficult way because the Lord is faithful to His children and will not forsake the work of His hands. Then He shows the best way to go with all of our needs, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

The vicissitudes of life are many; in this passage they are called cares. The word care has several different meanings. We know of the good care a father has for his child, the care of a minister for his flock, and the care of the sinner for his eternal welfare. It can also have an unfavorable meaning such as a fearful care or a burden which rends the heart and leaves us no rest. Peter, as a spiritual physician, describes an excellent prescription, “Casting all your cares upon Him.” When we cannot cope with our cares, then we no longer have any rest, and it may even be that we must be hospitalized because of all of our problems. God’s people also do not always expect rest from the Lord.

We all have our fears for the future. The farmers fear whether it will be dry or whether it will be cold. What will happen in the world this year? Will there be much unemployment? How will it go with our schools? Will world conformity increase in our churches? We all have our cares, rich and poor, young and old, but they often affect us differently. The Lord can use temporal cares to open the eyes for our spiritual needs; think only of Manasseh while he was in prison. When it pleases the Lord to show us that we are sinners, then a great care is felt; we become concerned about the matters of eternity. It is a great privilege when such a concern is born under the administration of the Spirit. Of course, these people, because they are in this world, also have temporal problems, but their spiritual needs are the most important to them. Will the Lord show mercy to such a sinner as they are? Under the influence of Satan, Christians become discouraged and full of cares. David said, “I will be sorrowful for my sin.” They long for a holy life, but they have no strength against so many enemies. They feel like Paul, “Oh, wretched man that I am.”

Is this also your care? Is your answer, no? Are you not concerned about these things? What a sad condition because the Lord knows the inmost heart, and He will never bestow His favor upon such a walk. His justice requires Him to condemn us forever, without regeneration. Many will say, “But I cannot convert myself.” This is one hundred percent true and should become our greatest care in the season before us. Ask the Lord to make us concerned about this. The fruit of the life of faith is a concern about sin and a fleeing with this need unto the Lord. This care does not drive us away from God, but the more we learn of our deep misery, the more the need is born in us for deliverance. Also in this we may say, “Casting all your care upon Him.”

There are so many cares to be remembered on Prayer Day that only a small number can be mentioned. Of course, it is not necessary to express all of our needs because the Lord knows all things. In every church, in every family, in the life of every person there are cares. Yet, sometimes I think that I am wrong. Why is that, you may ask. Well, when the prayer services are held, in general, the attendance is fairly small. When we talk about our daily needs and cares, it seems that they sometimes degenerate into an immoderate concern, especially when we speak about our business, employment, family, and the children’s schooling; these things seem to be all important.

When spiritual needs are discussed, it becomes evident that this is a subject of secondary importance although this is not admitted. This subject should be of the utmost importance while we are traveling on our way to the great eternity. It is not so important for us, by nature, because we are dead in sin and trespasses and do not realize this fact. How great is the need of our churches, whereof many are without a minister. Would it not be desirable on this Prayer Day, although we do not deserve it, to ask the Lord to remember us again in giving us men for the ministry?

When we see so many unconverted people and the great temptations wherewith our young people are faced every day, then it could be and should be Prayer Day every day. Where can we go with our cares? In this text we receive a lovely invitation to come to the Lord. Oh, that the Lord would give the Spirit of prayer in the midst of us to come with all of our cares before Him who is the Hearer of prayer. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). Although we deserve the opposite because of our sins, still the Lord has opened a way to draw nigh unto Him and to cast our cares upon Him.

The Greek word for “cast” means to roll off a heavy object. In and of ourselves we will not cast off our cares upon Him since we took care of ourselves in Paradise. How different it becomes in the life of a poor sinner who sees himself worthy of condemnation, who loses the battle and lays down the weapons of enmity. He is not able to take care of himself any more and supplicates that the Lord may take over for him. Unbelief is the greatest hindrance, but the Lord gives faith to His Church in the moment of regeneration. At His time He strengthens them to come to this exercise of faith, “Casting all your care upon Him.”

What a deliverance this gives. Does it mean that there is a solution for all problems, an answer to all questions, and deliverance from all cares? No, externally the circumstances may be the same, but the presence of the Lord is then felt. We think of David who was in trouble. Absalom came with his army, but when the Lord came over, then he could say, “There be many that say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased” (Psalm 4:6&7).

What will the future bring? I cannot tell, but when we may do as Peter has said, then it will be well, “Casting all your care upon Him.” By faith it is possible to entrust ourselves to the Lord for time and eternity. Paul was in such a blessed condition when he wrote to the Philippians, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6&7).

Our text says, “For he careth for you.” We can trust the Lord. He is not as a man but the almighty God who is willing and able to help. He is the gold and the silver and the cattle upon a thousand hills, “For He careth for you.” This is the Lord revealed, especially in the sending of His beloved Son who came to seek and to save that which was lost. This is written for the encouragement of the Church, not to distrust, but to trust the Lord. Every day we make ourselves unworthy of the Lord’s care for us. He does it for His own sake, for His Name’s sake. It is a great privilege when we may give ourselves over into the care of the Lord. The poet says, “As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters... until that He have mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2). Grace makes it without condition from our side. He fulfills His counsel in His providence. No hair of our head falls on the ground without His will.

We may say this in general, but the special care of the Lord is over His church; that is not the same as always having prosperity. The world does not understand how a child of God can praise the Lord in days of darkness, but by faith this is possible. The weight of adversity can often not be missed; still, the Lord does not forget the hope of His people. It is even possible for a child of God to sing in the face of death when the Lord is on his side, “For He careth for you.” Was this not fulfilled when Daniel was in the den of lions, when the young men were in the fiery oven, and when Stephen was stoned to death? That the Lord cares is possible because Christ has bought His Church, both soul and body, for time and eternity. Although we do not always comprehend the ways of the Lord, He is righteous in all His ways, also in what He will send upon our path in the coming months. May our concerns not only be about food and drink and health and prosperity because then we will have an empty life. May we learn to be dependent on the Lord in every aspect of life and ask on this Prayer Day, “Oh, Lord, care Thou for me.”

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