Daily Devotional

As a kid, I remember summer break as being a great time to play with friends, go on family vacations and attend VBS at church. But then when August hit, the back-to-school sales started at the local Wal-mart. The commercials came on TV saying “It’s time to get ready to go back to school.” And my heart started to sink into a mild depression and I said, “I don’t want to go back to school!”

But as a parent, things are different. I remember summer break coming to an end and saying, “Thank the Lord, the kids are going back to school!” Now, don’t get me wrong, we had tons of fun with our kids in the summer, but eventually, it was just time. The school year starts, and the rhythm of church attendance gets back to normal, especially with AWANA kicking off, and so many opportunities throughout the week for spiritual growth.
But with the start of school, there was always a little fear. Will my kids do okay in their new classes, with new classmates? Will they get picked on? Will they get good teachers who keep parents well-informed? Will my kids be able to handle the new curriculum? Will my kids be able to balance all the academics with their busy schedules in sports and church attendance?

With age comes wisdom, and after all these years I’ve learned that life is always filled with unknowns. There will always be things outside of my control. There will always be set-backs of one sort or another. But one thing I know for sure, with God’s help, I can handle it. So I just need to relax and trust Him.

I tend to worry, I get caught up in the ‘what-ifs’ of life. And I forget that I serve a God who’s in control of every aspect of life. What lies ahead is never a surprise to Him. He knows the difficulties I will face, and He is always there to help me carry them if I turn to Him. Unfortunately, I often forget that and try to do it all myself.

So as school gets ready to start again, and the worries tend to escalate, I want to claim the verse, “...casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). As the events of the world around me cause my anxiety to increase, I choose to cast it on the Lord Jesus. I know He will carry it for me because He cares for me. And He cares for you, too.