Careful

Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.
1 Peter 5:7, MSG*

Carefree: not because we’re careless, but because we know and trust God’s character and have committed to Him all the things that would weigh on our hearts and minds.

“Most careful.” The first image I get is fine china being carefully wrapped and tucked securely in a box.

But elementary school children have to be “most careful” with the hatching chicks and emerging butterflies. “Helping” them, making their journey easier, will damage or kill them.

A chef is “most careful” in the measurements and quality of ingredients, but they get chopped and mixed and exposed to the right amount of heat for the proper time.

So as Peter says in chapter 4, we shouldn’t be surprised at what happens in our lives.

Nor should we listen to the lie that God doesn’t care. He is “most careful” with us. He knows our limits. After all, He made us.

He also knows His limits. Well, He knows He has no limits. There’s nothing, however bad, that He can’t heal if we’ll trust Him. Nothing that can keep us from His love and care.

Remember, one of the aims in the trials is that our faith “be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour” (1 Peter 1:7, NIV**). There’s no hint here of disproving or disqualifying. As we experience the power of God to sustain and care for us – we prove to ourselves that He is enough – not only do we know what before we simply believed, but those around us can see God’s power and acknowledge it with praise and honour to Him.

Father, thank You that You are indeed most careful with us. Thank You that You are fully trustworthy. Please help us learn to give You our cares and not to carry them ourselves.

Our song this week is by David Meece: “Things You Never Gave Me.”

*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

**New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

3 thoughts on “Careful

  1. Sheila Davidson

    Joanna, lovely insights and beautifully written. I could see a collection of these as a devotional. 🙂
    Thank you for your “careful” thought and preparation.
    God bless you,
    – Sheila

    Reply
  2. joannamallory

    Emily, I’m so glad this post touched you.

    Sheila, thanks for your encouraging words.

    Thank you both for stopping by. The LORD continue to bless you as you serve Him.

    Reply

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