“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22

I once heard a wonderful analogy of the choice between living in freedom vs. bondage. In South America, Africa and Asia, the natives devised an effective method of trapping monkeys. They take a gourd or some similar object and drill a hole just large enough for a monkey’s hand to pass through; they add some extra weight to the gourd with sand or pebbles, then put a nut or some fruit inside and place the gourd where a monkey will find it.

Then the monkey sticks his hand through the hole to get the food — but with the prize in its grasp, the monkey cannot get its hand back out. The hole is too small for the monkey’s hand to pass through so long as it is holding the treat, and the gourd is too heavy to be carried. Because the monkey will not let go of its prize, it becomes trapped. The animal gives up its freedom to hold on to a small piece of food.

The cares and concerns of this world can be to us just like that prize that the monkey refuses to let go of. Life happens, our choice in how we deal with the circumstances we encounter makes all the difference. No one ever promised that we would run this race with ease; one song writer wrote these precious and truthful words: Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s are cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.

God’s faithful and upright servant Job encountered insurmountable loss during his lifetime; but God’s amazing grace sustained Him and blessed Him through it all … Job 42:10 states “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” During suffering and even ridicule from family and friends …Job faithfully trusted and released His will over to God.

What about you and I – what cares and concerns are we allowing to weight us down and rob us of the freedom and peace that we have in the amazing grace of God? Psalms 55:22 admonishes us to “Cast thy burden upon the “LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

God knows exactly what is going on in our lives, we too can release our circumstances in His hands. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. He has promised to never place any more on us than we are able to bear. We can walk in the peace of knowing that all things are working out for our good.

So, let us let go in prayer; casting our cares on Him; that is, leaving them with Him to do as He pleases, who works all things after the counsel of His divine will… He loves us and has only the best planned for us “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

Blessing and peace be with you always.