“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
–1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
Sometimes we all need to get away and rest from life’s stressers. A time to clear our heads can be very meaningful. A change of pace can help us evaluate where we have been, and where we are going.
While these vacation times are extremely important, it is just as important to have fun. Because of this, I want to share some memories with you. While seeing the massive redwoods in California and learning to water ski were great experiences, I would like to tell you about a fun day trip that I took for a little r and r.
Before you take this trip with me, however, I would be remiss if I didn’t start by providing you with the following warning. You see, this little jaunt could be hazardous to your health if you decide to try it, so before going on, please read the fine print.
1. go to a place with no one around.
2. Unless you have a self-driving car, take someone who can see the road with you. This is imperative, because you might reach an unexpected or undesired location if nobody told you where and when to turn.
Lastly, before we can get started, I need to ask you one safety question. Have you ever driven without keeping an eye on where you were going?
After meeting the above criteria, you can go on this thrilling trip with me. You might not believe it, but this even tops cold pizza for breakfast! Let’s get started!
I once received an email from some friends asking me to join them at the lake, and it promised to be a day like no other. I was looking forward to it, and it couldn’t have been a nicer trip. But the part that stands out for me is when I got to drive a jet ski under protest.
Although I like to think that my driving skills are superb, my friends weren’t so sure, since I can’t see at all. But I figure you only live once, so I headed out there anyway. (Maybe it was my imagination, but on the way there, I thought I heard teeth chattering.)
In spite of my friends’ objections, they let me loose in the middle of the lake where there was no one around. I had the time of my life speeding across the water. The highlight was driving on top of the wake, because while I have limited experience with horses, the bumps made me imagine I was in a rodeo. But even though I held on for all I was worth, I was inevitably thrown into the water with a splash.
In a similar way, often when we least expect it, we are thrown into the chilly lake of life. In a figurative sense, this tends to deliver an unpleasant splash of its own, and we are suddenly in over our heads. You know what I mean. Maybe this was brought on by the loss of a job, or a visit to the doctor.
But while the waters of confusion and turmoil may seem to be freezing now, I would like to offer some thoughts. Many times, our problems are only magnified by our thrashing around. Just like drowning underwater, the waters of life can certainly cause panic and fear. While we’re desperately trying to get out from under our problems, we often find that we only swallow more water, or at least move further away from shore.
Your problems may not be solved in the blink of an eye, but I would like to point you to someone who is larger than any earthly troubles.
Let me do this by using the word CAST. The letter C could stand for Cast or Cares. In the same way you would cast your fishing line out, picture casting all of your concerns upon a loving God. Then ask Him for help and wisdom, as you pour out your heart to Him.
Next, the A stands for both Ask and Attack. A passive approach to problem-solving is usually not an option, so we must continue to ask God for wisdom. Then, without taking the problem from Gods hands, break it down into bite-sized pieces, praying over each aspect. This will offer a clearer picture and make things more manageable.
The S stands for Stepping back. You can do this by quieting your heart before God. This is becoming more and more important, as noise pollution is on the rise in this world. This can also help when looking at individual trees in the forest of life.
Many times, a quiet heart can foster new ideas, which brings us to the letter t. All of us appreciate a heartfelt thank-you, and so does our heavenly Father. So just as you would send a thank-you to a good friend, write a thank-you note to God. Doing this will help you concentrate on all of your blessings, and begin to see problems as challenges.
By the way, thank you for reading this, and for letting God walk with you through the halls of life. May He be with you during both troubled times and vacations!
May the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Monday night Bible study or Tuesday night prayer meeting. Both are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 712-775-7031, and our ID is 607518748. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.