Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

Fifty eight years ago "In God we trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States.  We sing it in our national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" and we see it everyday in United States currency.

However, there are many seniors who know, that it only takes a fleeting moment to look at our United States of America and wonder, "When did we stop trusting God?"  Our God, whose trust meant everything to so many has been and is now being removed from all that truly was "America!" 

My heart aches for America and often I ask myself, "Am I trusting God fully and completely?"  There are so many defeated-Christians now a day, Christians who do not wholly trust in the faith that our forefathers passed down and meant for us to hold close to our hearts.

Long ago I found myself a defeated-Christian.  I was overwhelmed with a loved one who did not have a relationship with the Lord and at the time was very ill. 

I would cry out to God, I would pray and still I agonized over the entire situation. One night I called a friend to pray with me.  I asked if we could get a group of ladies, prayer warriors who would seek the Lord with me.  Sadly, she told me there was no one she knew who would gather for such a reason.

My heart broke, I decided I would pray and seek God until He had an answer for me.  I spent many nights awake seeking the Lord until one night I heard from Him.

God, in that still small voice, softly spoke these words, "Cast your burden upon me!"
My mind quickly went to that Bible verse, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7"

It was the word "Cast" that really caught my attention, so I looked it up in the dictionary, the following is what I found: 

CAST (kast, kahst) ow Spelled  
/kæst, kɑst/ Show Spelled verb (used with object), cast, cast·ing.
1. to throw or hurl; fling: The gambler cast the dice. 
2. to throw off or away: He cast the advertisement in the wastebasket.

Now, I knew what "cast" meant -- but when I read the words, "throw, hurl; fling"   I knew immediately why I wasn't actually and absolutely trusting God!  I finally realized what I had been doing wrong.

First - I never really flung away my fears.  I never thrust those cares to God, I would pray earnestly, but when I was through -- I continued to carry the burden.  When you cast a fishing line, you let it go as far into the water as possible.  When you cast your burdens you must do the same thing!

Second - I wanted, no I needed others to share my heavy burden.  I wanted them to know the urgency I felt and the heavy burden I carried.  When there was no one -- I began to doubt and that only brought more fear.  I had to learn that I could take my problems to Jesus -- I could cast them, even heave them into His arms and my Lord would carry them for me.  He would even carry me if need be.

Instantly and rapidly I was at ease, the burden didn't cease to be -- but it was now in the arms of Jesus and I was at peace.  It was a peace like I had never known and it was thoroughly comforting to my heart, mind and soul.

Of course Satan would try to bring it to my mind for the sole purpose of me worrying... but I just cast it back to the Lord.  I told that old devil he would now have to speak to Jesus about this problem -- and I felt that peace all over again!!

Friend, if you are struggling with difficulties beyond your ability -- cast them out to Jesus.  He is waiting to carry them for you.  Jesus wants your life to be one of peace and not anxiety.

Learn to lean on Jesus -- Learn of His Love for you -- Learn of the peace that only He can give!!  God's Word promised you this peace when Jesus spoke these words: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27" 

Will you trust Jesus completely today?

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed... 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 

I've heard from those of you who are discouraged, suffering and even tormented by the weight of hardship you brave every single day.  Your world seems to be isolated from all others and you aren't sure you can handle the problems by yourself.  

You may be enduring the diagnosis of cancer with dreadful treatments of chemotherapy and no prognosis of what lies ahead.  Still, others of you are diseased with no real remedy available, you struggle just to face another day in constant pain, no miracle medicine to ease the way.

It may be hard to accept, but Christians are not exempt from suffering.  Still, sometimes our adversities make us wonder "why God allows it!"  Have you ever wondered or questioned why God, who has the power to stop your struggles -- doesn't??   I must admit, I have! 

Some of Satan's most compelling and powerful lies are, "Why do you continue to trust a God who would allow so much pain and sorrow?  You came to God thinking your life would be full of His blessings, but where are those blessings now??"

Don't let yourself fall for these lies, not even for a moment!  You may not know what to do or where to turn, but God does!  

We may be spiritually terrorized, but God still walks beside us and His Holy Spirit lives within us.  We may feel beaten and battered, but we are not broken!  Our strength is in Christ Jesus and He will not fail us.

When you don't know what to do -- Praise Him!  When you don't know where to turn -- Thank Him!  Your relationship with Christ grows stronger through your praise and thanksgiving!  

While our adversities may seem overwhelming, we are showing forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies.  Jesus LIVES within us and while it may seem we are going through the worst of life... we are really getting in on the best of it.

God's Word says, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  2 Corinthians 4:10" 

My friends, I know what living in constant pain is.  I face it on a daily basis and while my body grows weary -- my spirit is strengthened through the power of my Lord Jesus. 

Corrie ten Boom once said, "There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still."  I am still... just learning to bask in God's love.  I want to abound and delight in God's love so fully that it will be all that matters to me.

God's love is enough -- it is more than enough!!  My goal is to nestle into God and stay completely in Him!  What about you?