James 1:6-10
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
1 Peter 5: 7 anchors a blessed assurance that when our burdens are cast on God and left with Him, He will take care of it. The dictionary defines the word cast as the art of throwing something forcefully. Whether we give the issue forcefully to the Lord, or gently surrender it to Him does not really matter (as long as it is handed over to Him). However, what really matters is what we do afterwards – that is, how we conduct ourselves when we have given the problem to God.
Most Christians are smart enough to hand over the issues to God; we have done this severally each time challenges, struggles, concerns, or problems arise. However, inherent in this rewarding endeavor is a malpractice we often engage in, and must guard against – and that is the temptation to keep taking the problem from God (and further re-examining it, or exercising control over it once again)!
Whenever we give the problem to God, and start worrying about it again, we have just taken that issue back from God. Then we give it to Him again, only to take it once more with our continual worrying, fretting, and distress – when we do this, our faith keeps dancing back and forth like a yo-yo! Needless to say that this attitude displays a great deal of distrust in God’s capability to handle the issues, or problems we handed over to Him!
James 1:6 describes the unstable nature of such an attitude – like the waves of the sea being tossed here and there by the wind. Even though it may not be intentional on our part, this type of behavior dishonors God. Sadly, this verse concludes by saying such a person should not expect to receive anything from God.
Let me sound this cautionary, but obvious advice – once you have handed over the issues (challenges, problems, battles, etc.) to God, please leave them there! Quit worrying, or talking about it; stop re-examining it frequently (to observe any changes, or progress), cease from constant evaluation/analysis (of the situation) to determine what progress has been made – just leave it with God!
Simply trust God, His ways, His methods, His timing, His abilities and capabilities, and most especially His faithfulness – He has NO track record of failure!
Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.