Sunday, May 9

Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:7

We struggle with two problems. First, we live in a culture that encourages us to develop a positive self-image. We devote countless hours and spend significant amounts on therapists and self-help books in order to feel better about ourselves.

Yet we still have the seed of suspicion within us that we are not really worth caring about. We silently wonder if we can draw the attention of the Holy One. “After all,” we tell ourselves, “we’re only one poor soul among so many. Surely, there are other more important people than us, with more important problems, beseeching the ear of heaven.”

Our other problem plagues us precisely because our culture encourages us to have such a strong self-image. This problem stems from the thinking that we are responsible for handling all of our own situations, working through our own issues, settling our own cares. 

“Surely,” we hear our inner voice saying, “we can use our own mind, our own resources to see ourselves through the difficulties we experience in life. God expects us to take initiative.”

Here’s the twist: When we really have a strong self-image, we are able to glimpse the elasticity of heaven’s care—God stretches from heaven toward us, and we stretch back.

Neither unworthiness nor self-sufficiency has any power in the life of the one who is unafraid to pray for God’s assistance, and receive God’s care.

O God, let me take off my back-pack of burdens, and be bound up in your care.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2004.