Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Unfortunately, I tend to be a perfectionist. And I get flustered and upset when things go outside of my perfect little molds and compartments. And pregnancy has amplified this habit of mine, because it's easy to get stressed and over-think everything. So, many times I have gone before the Lord to vent, complain, whine, etc., etc. I know it's silly because I can sometimes make mountains out of little molehill issues. And I know I look like a big silly, but he's my dad and that's what I do. I cast my cares upon him and he sets me straight and reminds me that he is commander of my life and captain of my ship...not me. And I realize my Father is, indeed, God.
However, I have heard many people say that they don't want to put their cares upon God because he has much bigger issues to deal with and there are people who have worse situations that need attending to. This thought is a lie planted discreetly in the soil of the human mind. 1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast your cares (anxieties, worries, fears, burdens) upon him because he cares for you." Psalm 55:22 says to "Cast your burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be moved." Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
In fact, didn't Jesus put himself up on the cross, specifically to carry your burden, your sin, your sickness, your fears, your confusion, and your anxieties? Jesus poured himself out for us so that we could pour ourselves onto him. Crucified on that cross with him was everything that keeps him from us and us from him. Our sin keeps us distanced from God. It leaves us separated from him and unable to have a relationship with him. But he died so that we would become as spotless and sinless as Jesus. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." He literally left the glory of heaven, and went down into the pits of hell to pull us out, just so that we could join him in the glory of heaven, in the glory of the Father, in the glory of his Spirit, in the glory of The King.
Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." But not only did he sacrifice himself for the things that keep him from us, but also the things that keep us from going to him. Our confusion about his grace, about his opinion of us, about what we must do to attain salvation, our legalism, our pride, our fear, our misperceptions about God or church or other Christians...he died to not just clean our slate but to clear our minds. We need to let him refresh our ideas and our perceived knowledge. That's why he says that we literally get a new heart when we receive Jesus (Ezekiel 36:26). Because if he were to leave us with our old hearts but wipe away our sin, we would go right back to our sinful ways. It'd be like treating the symptoms but not the disease; though the symptoms may improve, they will always stick around because the disease is still reproducing the symptoms. But thank God, he gives us new hearts. Jesus gives a really cool illustration of this in Matthew 9:17 (you don't pour new wine into old wineskins). That's why you hear so many Christians who say they used to be drug addicts, homosexuals, suicidal, alcoholics, violent tempers, ex-cult members, ex-criminals, etc, etc. Jesus gave them a new heart, which changed their very nature and their past inclination toward sin became an inclination toward Jesus. It's like how Jesus says bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33); the old, sinful, dirty heart is like a bad friend who influences you to do the wrong thing. But the new heart is like trading that friend in for a love affair with Jesus. Jesus doesn't just free us in the moment of accumulated sin. He frees us from the darkness, from the world, where sin is a part of society; he frees us from the very atmosphere where sin lives. That's why we say we are in the world but not of the world (John 15:19).
Anyway, I digress, but what I'm trying to say is that God loves, LOVES, when we come to him with our cares. I know I can be a handful, which is why I am so grateful that I have a God whose hands can hold the entirety of creation. My shortcomings are not overwhelming to Him. His grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He's Abba Father, Yahweh, Messiah, King of Kings, the Comforter, the Counselor..there are SO many names that describe his goodness.You can trust that God is the absolute of all goodness (1 John 1:5). He died so that we can come to him, freely. Simple as that. And your anxiety over your job or marriage or thoughts, or just your day, in general, is just as important to him as the "bigger" issues of this world. Too many Christians get caught up in works and how to get God's attention. Too many people try to find the perfect gift to give him before they can approach his throne. Well, guess what? Everything is his, so what can you possibly give him that he doesn't already have? Our most precious gift to God is our hearts. That's all we need give. I admit, I have gotten caught up in legalism before, and works and not wanting to "waste" an omnipotent God's time. But then, Jesus set me straight. And I am so glad, because, honestly, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't approach the mercy seat and the throne of grace at my time of need. I don't know what I would do if Jesus wasn't always in my boat, calming every storm with one command. What would I do if I didn't have my Jesus to pull me to the surface when the water is over my head. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't just come up to my Savior's beautiful feet and lay my head upon his lap and just be in his presence. Remember, He is omnipresent, which means he is everywhere at once. So he is just as much all yours as he is all mine. He is my peace. He is my reason. He's my best friend. He's my daddy. He's my Lord. He's my everything. He's my sustenance and I need him more than anything. I'm so glad that I can boldly approach my Father's throne. <3
