We gathered beneath the morning sun, its shimmering light deceptive in the early autumn chill. Huddling beneath a makeshift shelter, November nipped at fingers as each woman considered the small rock nestled in her hands.
Determined, I scrawled the words across the face of my rock. A particular burden I knew He was calling me to surrender. Give to Him. How many times must I release this to you, Lord, before I leave it at your feet?
Moving to the place where sand and sea meet, I dipped my head in prayer. I believe, Father. Help my unbelief.
Moving to the place where sand and sea meet, I dipped my head in prayer. I believe, Father. Help my unbelief. Then, drawing my arm back, I released the burden–etched in stone–into the depths of the ocean.
I allowed thee solemnity of the moment to penetrate deep. It was impossible to gather that deeply held burden to myself. I couldn’t recapture it. It was lost to me in the depths of an ocean vast and mysterious. Beyond comprehension. Powerful and peaceful.
the one who bore the cross longs for us heave our peace-stealing, joy-depleting cares at His feet.
Joy fluttered in my chest like a bird rising in the air. Hope released fresh in my spirit as I considered what He has done and what is yet to come.
Returning to the gathering place, I noticed other women dotting the shoreline. Some knelt along the ocean’s edge, seafoam lapping at their knees. Others raised arms toward heaven as if celebrating newfound freedom or delighting in a promise shared between Father and daughter.
Eventually, we all met beneath the flapping wings of the beach tent–our church building this beautiful Sunday. Some faces wore expressions of relief. Others joy, anticipation, or triumph.
Stepping forward, one woman spoke.
“I threw my rock into the water, but I didn’t think it went deep enough. I ran out and picked my burden up again. Isn’t that exactly what we do? We give Jesus our burdens and then take them back.”
I imagined my rock. The words I’d written. How many times must I surrender this to you, Lord, before I leave it at your feet?
Oh, yes. How often have I released this care to Christ only to gather it close to my heart again? Do you, too, scoop up your burdens once you’ve entrusted them to Jesus? Are we releasing our fears, worries, and concerns…but only a certain distance. Then, if He lets us down, doesn’t come through, or fails to arrange circumstances to our liking we can charge ahead and pluck the precious care from His grasp.
Psalm 55:22 reads, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
The one who bore the cross longs for us heave our peace-stealing, joy-depleting cares at His feet.
Cast means to “throw forcefully”. Scripture exhorts us to forcefully throw off those burdens that weigh us down. They are too great for us to bear and because of His great love, the one who bore the cross longs for us heave our peace-stealing, joy-depleting cares at His feet.
There is such comfort in the words…” he will sustain you.” We can only fret, worry, or pray over our cares. Sometimes, we can take steps to help manage them, but ultimately we are not in control.
But, God.
God is our support. He alone is capable of meeting our needs and answering the cries of the heart. He alone left heaven to deliver hope and suffered satan’s sting to provide redemption. This is the same God who promises to sustain us regardless of life’s concerns.
Pick up your rock, friend. Write your burden down. Now, throw.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
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What a wonderful concept Ms. Tammy. Now, if only there was an ocean nearby. 🙂 Loved this! I’ve often thought of how our prayers are like a young person learning to fish. They cast away with great hope, but are almost constantly reeling it back in. “Is my bait still there?” “Maybe I should try a different spot where Grandpa is fishing?” On and on it goes; over and over. We cast and reel, cast and reel. Yet we wonder why we seem to never catch anything. As we learn to become better fisherman, we become more patient. A little movement now and again is natural. I prayer example of that is “Father, I know you’ve got this, but I haven’t seen your answer yet, so I want you to understand your help is still important and needed. I know you will.” Thanks for giving me a different idea. Casting my worries upon God. I like it! God’s blessings ma’am.
I love the image of learning to fish. Casting and reeling…. Peace and grace to you, J.D.
God help us trust Him, and just leave our burdens alone! Thanks for this reminder, Tammy. Many blessings to you!
I’m grateful for HIs patience! Peace and grace, Tammy
Thanks for sharing. I shared similar thoughts in a post of mine years ago called Boomerang Prayers, of which I can be the chief boomeranger.
I loved how you shared the definition of “cast”. I never thought about it that way, but indeed it is to throw forcefully.
This boomerang prayer always needs to be reminded of this.
Hi Karen. The definition changed my perspective. I think I’m a bit of a boomerang prayer, too. Peace and grace, Tammy
Love this Tammy. Such a good visual reminder of letting go so we can receive His grace.
Hi Jeanne. It was a powerful experience! Many blessings, Tammy
I so appreciate this vivid portrayal of what it means to CAST our cares. I’m no fisherman, but I’m ready to let a few things FLY!
Me, too! Many blessings, Michele!
Don’t pick them up again! <—THAT is the hard part. I cast. I pray. I leave them at His feet. Then, I take that worry right back again. When will I learn? Thank you for these timely reminders, Tammy!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Choosing not to pick our cares up again truly is the challenge, isn’t it? I’m grateful He understands we’re in the process of becoming. Peace and grace, Tammy
Oh, yes! I’ve been guilty of taking my burden to the altar (or tossing it into the ocean) and then picking it up again. It always gets heavier the more I put it away and retrieve it–again. Thank you for this beautiful reminder of God’s love and faithfulness. I am weak, but God…(loved that sentence in your blog–But God). Thank for sharing this blessing.
He is faithful even when we are weak. Thanks for stopping by today! Peace and grace, Tammy
I love this visual of hurling our burdens at the feet of Jesus where He will care for them. In the KJV, that verse reads that “He will not suffer the righteous to be moved.” God is not putting up with us being moved from His side. Thanks for sharing!
What beautiful words! I love reading scripture from different Bible versions. Many blessings, Tammy
I love this Tammy. Thanks for sharing on Grace & Truth. I have chosen your post as my feature this week. Please stop by Friday and get the “I Was Featured” graphic for your post if you wish.
Hi Aimee. Thanks so much! Peace and grace, Tammy
I was touched by what that woman said about going back to pick up her rock again. Thank you for sharing.