Ever feel like it’s the little things that add up and press down on you like a big boulder?

I’m talking about the stuff that doesn’t make the headlines. Scratch that. It’s the stuff that doesn’t even make the “prayer requests” section of your home group or your church bulletin. The seemingly inconsequential, easily dismissed, just-plow-through-it everyday stuff that isn’t considered “worthy” of sharing.

Often, the message we sometimes receive from others is: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Soldier on because, as a child of God, you should be able to weather this storm, especially when others are facing Category 5 hurricanes.

But, we know that sometimes it’s the small stuff that can get us down, especially when they add up like a stack of pancakes coming off the griddle faster than you can count.

But, here’s the good news. Actually, I take that back: here’s the mind-blowingly awesome, dazzlingly brilliant, soul-soothing news.

God doesn’t categorize problems into “Urgent” and “Let her deal with that herself” folders.

He doesn’t stack our problems against anyone else’s.

He doesn’t tell us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps because He’s got more “important” stuff on His plate to deal with.

Here’s what His Word says:

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

Not some of my anxieties. Not only those bits considered “shareable” or “pressing.” But all of them. Even the seemingly little ones that I’m even embarrassed to admit I struggle with.

Friend, I’m floored by the kindness of God because He gives us the wonderful privilege of prayer.

The more we delve into prayer, the more layers of it we uncover.

It’s communicating with God.

It’s listening to His voice.

It’s expressing our hearts to Him.

It’s declaring His goodness.

It’s aligning our will to His.

But for this season and for this moment, I love that prayer is handing over my anxieties to Him.

1 Peter 5: 6 reminds us that casting our anxiety on Him requires that we first humble ourselves before Him. We get to say, “You know what to do with this, Lord. I’m letting go because I can’t handle this myself.”

And in that moment of coming before Him on bended knee, He exchanges our worries for His peace.

God doesn’t dismiss or overlook problems that the world thinks we should handle ourselves. He doesn’t suggest we cast our worries on Him—but He instructs us to do so. He welcomes our weaknesses.

So, friend, don’t be embarrassed that you are overwhelmed by problems that may seem insignificant. Yes, I’m talking about the problems you “should” be able to take in your stride. And even the ones which you feel silly about sharing with others. And even the ones that exist only in your head.

The apostle Paul cried out for God to remove the thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12: 8). How “big” was that thorn? We don’t know. Scripture is intentionally ambiguous about the exact nature of the thorn in Paul’s side. Maybe compared to the floggings, shipwrecks, persecution, and imprisonment Paul experienced, the proverbial thorn was “little”—but Paul didn’t think it too inconsequential to bring before God. He took it to God three times. And in that, he received peace and power. God didn’t remove the problem. He gave Paul grace to deal with it.

And He will do for us too. We don’t wave a magic wand of prayer and expect daily problems to disappear. But in prayer, we get to say, “Lord, take over.” And in prayer, we receive the peace that He is sovereign over everything, including the small stuff that we think could possibly escape His attention.

Friend, culture may tell you to handle your problems yourself. But you handle your burdens best when you hand them over to the Lord. And in that handover, you get to experience the peace of God that passes all understanding.

 

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