Letting Go Of Our Cares - Carla D Burnette
Are you concerned about your kid(s) attending school or college in person? Or maybe you are a concerned student?
During the first surge of COVID-19, the location of my youngest daughter’s college became a hotspot for the virus. As a result, the college implemented restrictions to limit the number of students living on campus for fall semester. Such as, one person per dorm room, no roommates were allowed. Masks and social distancing were required everywhere too.
As a parent, I thought, is it worth having her attend in person despite the risks of COVID-19? Will college be fun anymore? What happens if she gets the virus? The alternative was online instruction. However, my daughter disliked finishing the previous semester all online. As a science major, she needed hands-on learning. Since she met the on-campus living restrictions, I let her go, in spite of my concerns.
Are you facing a similar situation? Maybe your student(s) is currently receiving online instruction and desires to attend in person next semester. Will you let them, despite your uneasiness? Or are you a student considering attending in person? Will your fears of COVID stop you from doing so?
What are we to do with our concerns, worries, and fears? Either we dwell on them or relinquish them. Dwelling on our concerns accomplishes nothing. It only adds to our anxiety and weighs us down. Proverbs 12:25 states, “An anxious heart weighs a man down.”
How then do we relinquish our concerns? We do not deny our worries and fears, but we lay them before the Lord.
Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” This means, when we let go of our cares and cast them onto the Lord, He promises to bear the weight of them. We no longer carry them, nor do they consume our thoughts. Instead, we trust the Lord is in control of the situation, and we no longer dwell on the what-ifs.
In addition to throwing off our cares, let’s remind ourselves who our God is.
Psalm 95:6-7 says, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.”
From these verses, we can rest knowing that God will take care of us and our kids. Sure, we still think about our kids’ health and safety, but we trust the Lord to watch over them. We are no longer stressed over the situation.
Since returning to campus, my daughter has remained healthy. Only a small number of reported COVID-19 cases on campus so far. Because of this, I am thankful for the precautionary measures the college implemented for her safety. God has indeed been taking care of her.
For the spring, all students may return to campus or receive online instruction at home. Masks and social distancing will still be required. Random testing for COVID-19 at different checkpoints as well. With more students on campus, I wonder if another surge of the virus will occur in this area? No matter what happens, I can rest knowing the Lord will watch over her, as I cast my cares upon Him.
When fear or worry arises, go to the Lord. Thank Him for bearing your cares. Ask for help to truly trust that He is in control, so fear and worry do not control you.
Father, we bow down before You and worship You. There is no other God but You. Thank You for Your loving care of us. Thank You, we can cast our cares on You and You will sustain us. Help us to release all our cares to You and not pick them back up again. May we rest in Your beautiful promises. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What concerns are weighing you down? Comment below.
