A recent monthly prayerbook had a message about being carefree. "We all want to be carefree," it said. "Children expect to be carefree when school is out for summer vacation, adults expect to be carefree when they become empty nesters, and everyone looks forward to the carefree years of retirement."
North of Phoenix there is a Carefree, Arizona, and I'm sure the person who named it intended its name to convey a basic human wish to be that way if you live there. But of course, we can't escape the cares of life no matter how much time or money or wishes we have. Life will always toss its troubles at us, no matter what.
1 Peter 5:7 points us to the solution: "Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." Health cares, job cares, money, child or world cares - cast them all on Him, because He knows how to handle them. Some He will remove, others He will help us through, some may remain a long time but He will help us handle them. Whatever the case, Jesus is our heavenly care taker, if we will only let Him.
Recently I heard a man tell of how he struggled with the sudden death of his wife. "I learned the meaning of those words in Psalm 23," he said, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." He continued, "The important word is 'through'. Some people get into the valley and stay there, not knowing how to get out. We need to remember Jesus is in the valley also, and He will help us get through it."
During Lent we remember Jesus went into the valley, and endured the pain, isolation, rejection and death we deserved. He went there so we wouldn't have to stay there. He didn't stay there either, but came out alive on the other side. Jesus is our great care taker, for He took away our sins. Now we all can be carefree in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is our risen Lord who loves us, no matter what!
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