Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Years ago, early on in my middle school ministry, I was helping run a youth camp. I had been on a couple before, but this was one of the first where I really got to take on some more leadership opportunities. I was really excited because these were some of my favorite times with the youth—we got to go away for a week, away from all the distractions. But I was still a little nervous because at the end of the day, I was going to be responsible for all the kids. I remember being a little extra nervous for this one because we had a kid in the group—we'll call him Bobby—who clearly did not want to be there. He was actively engaged in youth group, and by actively engaged, I mean he showed up, he sat, he listened, and he left.
Where Did Bobby Go?
We knew he had a kind of hard home life and a rough background, so we were just thankful that he was there, and we had always prayed that God would be planting seeds in his life. Bobby really took a liking to me, so he just kind of followed me around most of the week. But about halfway through the week, I remember getting ready for chapel—which was not his favorite time—and I looked around and said, "Where did he go?" I couldn't find this kid. I started asking other kids, "Hey, have you seen Bobby?" Everybody kept saying no. I started asking other churches, "Hey, have you seen one of our kids? He's got sandy blond hair, he's about this tall." Nothing. At this point I was trying to keep calm, but I kind of started to panic. I started rummaging through the cabins, looking in the mess hall, everywhere I could think to look—and I couldn't find him. I remember being so overwhelmed with worry in that moment. Everything in me wanted to turn inward and think, how could I fix this problem before somebody finds out and gets mad at me?
Give All Your Worries to God
I want you to think about where you take your worries when you feel that anxiety set in. Let’s look at our Verse of the Day that helps us direct those to the right place.
It comes from 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7. The apostle says: "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."
I want you to really sit on those words for a moment. God cares about you. Let that sink in. He doesn't just care about humanity generally—"For God so loved the world"—He cares about you. He thinks about you. He loves you in such a profound way that any piece of stress or worry or anxiety that you hold on to, He wants you to not only bring to Him—He wants you to hand it over to Him. To get to the point where you say, I can't do this. I need You to take over.
The Prayer I Had to Pray
That's exactly what I had to do in my search for Bobby. I realized that in my frantic running around, I hadn't actually asked God for help. So, as hard as it was, I stopped. I closed my eyes and I prayed, God, I can't do this. I need You to help. I remember feeling prompted to go search the cabins again—and I had done that three, four, five times already. But this time I saw Bobby's bed move a little bit. I went over and pulled his covers down, and the kid had been asleep the entire time. I'm not joking. I had looked in that cabin over and over and over, but once I brought my cares to God, He actually showed me that Bobby was there. He was going to solve my problem.
Keep Bringing It to Him
But I'll be honest—sometimes the worries we have aren't that simple. Sometimes the cares we hold on to are ones we've carried for a long time, prayers we've prayed over and over with nothing seeming to change. But I really want you to hold on to this verse from 1 Peter and bring those to God, because He cares about you. He's sitting with you in your bedroom in the middle of the night as you're stricken with anxiety, feeling like you're unable to move. He's with you in the hospital room as you cry and cry, wishing the doctor had brought different news. He's with you in all of those moments, so keep bringing them to Him, because He's listening. Even if it seems like life's not changing, I promise you it just means that God is working in a way you're not expecting. Bring your worries, bring your cares. God is with you. God loves you, and He will overcome.