I love Thanksgiving and what it brings; food, family, food, time off, food, & food comas. Ok family is the most important of them, but let’s be honest, we all love the food and to paraphrase Paul’s words in reference to myself, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (gluttons), of whom I am chief.”

One of those foods you only get around this time of year is stuffing. (Mmmm carbs) But what I want to talk about today is not stuffing the food, but stuffing away your emotions.

Hi, my name is Richard and I am a stuffer. [Repeat after me: “Hi, Richard.”]

As an introvert, I constantly tell myself that stuffing is ok. I mean if something makes me feel fearful, sad, angry, etc., I just retreat into solidarity and I’m miraculously “better.” There is a problem with that though… all the emotions I don’t deal with are still there, waiting to come out. Then when something that may seem minor comes up, despair & rage emerge too quickly.

1 Peter 5:6-10
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

I love when Scripture says things so plainly.
pray and cast all your anxieties on God, because He CARES for you
be careful, because there is an enemy who wants you to fail
stay firm, your brothers & sisters in Christ are going through the same things
God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Merriam-Webster defines the word “cast” as the following:
Cast (verb): 1: to throw or move (something) in a forceful way 2: : to send or direct (something) in the direction of someone or something

Here’s the thing. In the moment we all dislike when that “more” spiritual person tells us we need to pray about it. We just want to think, “well you are not going through it, so what do you know.” But that’s the Truth. We as Christians must cast, to forcefully remove and send, our anxieties to God.

Not only that, but our Journey family needs to be there for one another. We all have different experiences, which have made us stronger. What is the purpose of being stronger, if you don’t help others through the same struggles?

Richard Jacobs
Worship Pastor