Wednesday in the Word: God Cares For You

I can’t swim. I’d love to know how, but there’s one problem: I don’t like water in my face! My husband thinks it’s funny, but I really do panic when I get water in my face. 

A couple of people have tried to help me learn to swim. One was my sister, Robyn. When we were teenagers, she tried to “teach” me to swim by taking me to the deep end of the pool - promising to hold on to me - only to let me go in the middle of the pool. I sank like a rock. I lived, but I did not learn to swim.

The other person was my husband. He took a little different approach. He stayed right with me, with his arms under me, making sure I didn’t sink, gradually removing his arms till I could float by myself. He never once left me alone, and although I still didn’t learn to swim, I didn’t almost drown, either.

What made the difference in the two people and their methods of helping me? Their level of caring. Yes, Robyn cared for me (she didn’t really want me to drown!), but my husband cared so much more than my sister ever could! Because I experienced his care, I trusted him and let myself relax with his arms under me.

In I Peter 5:7, Peter reminds us to cast "all your care upon him, for he careth for you," speaking of Jesus, of course. We usually read that verse and fail to consider how Peter knew that we could cast all our care upon Jesus. Peter wrote this verse under inspiration of God, but he also knew it was true based upon personal experience.

Consider these miracles that Jesus had performed for Peter:

• Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14,15)
• Jesus enabled Peter to catch many fish (Luke 5:1-11 & John 21:1-8)
• Jesus provided tribute money for taxes by catching a fish with a coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:24-27)
• Jesus walked on water and then enabled Peter to walk on water (Matthew 14:22-23)
• Jesus healed Malchus' ear after Peter had cut it off (Luke 22:50-55)
• Jesus delivered Peter from prison (Acts 12)

Peter could proclaim with confidence that God cares for us, because he had experienced God's care and provision so many times in his life. When we stop to think about the things God has done for us, maybe even write some of them down, we can be reassured that we truly can cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for us!

What are some things God has done for you? Can you assure someone, based on personal experience, that God cares for them?