“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
- Psalms 55:22 (NIV)
I have read this verse many times throughout my life; but this time the Lord highlighted the word “sustain”.
Sustain, defined as a verb, means to “strengthen or support physically or mentally”. It also means “to support something or keep it going”. (dictionary.com)
Parenting a child who grows anxious has given me a glimpse of how the Lord cares for me in my own anxiety. When I see my son grow anxious about such menial things (in my perspective), I just want to wrap him up and affirm to him that it’s going to be ok.
My Heavenly Father does the same for me. He is so patient and kind to me in my waves of heavy anxiety. He meets me right where I am and assures me that I can find peace and comfort in Him. He will sustain me. He will give me the physical and mental strength that I need when I cast my cares upon Him. In my prayer to the Lord, I ask Him to help me to model this well so that my son can see that Jesus is the One Who calms our anxious thoughts. Therefore I will be glad.
“Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.”
- Psalms 16:9-11 (CSB)
A few weeks ago the Lord spoke to me through this verse and it continues to amaze me how much His peace and joy continues to fill me. I was feeling overwhelmed and on the brink of an emotional meltdown. But this promise...that He will sustain me...has drawn me out of the darkness. He always does this. He brings me out of the pit and back into His arms.
In Him,
Katie Karlson