The Israelites were in an impossible situation again. They’d barely finished eating their unleavened Passover bread when Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to reclaim his slaves. A wandering throng of men, women, children, and livestock were now being chased down by the world’s most powerful army.

We know the end of the story: the walls of water let the Israelites escape before crashing down on Pharaoh’s chariots. But before the triumphant ending, I wonder how the Israelites felt. 

Exodus 14:19-20 tells us that the pillar that accompanied them on their journey out of Egypt moved between the Israelites and the approaching Egyptians as night fell: 

“Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.” (Exodus 14:19-20)

The vast sea was ahead of them, but what did they see behind? Was there a giant dust cloud as 600 chariots charged through the desert? Could they hear the hooves of the horses and feel the ground shake under the weight of the giant army? Did they see the army chasing them or the water parting? Or did they spend a terrifying night clutching their children to their chests, crying out to the Lord for a deliverance that seemed impossible? 

Some of you know how those endless, dark nights feel. You cry out to the Lord, but you don’t see the waters parting yet. You’re still drowning in fear, grief, uncertainty, difficulty, or worry. Where is God? Why hasn’t He swooped in and saved the day? 

I don’t have an easy answer for you, but I know this: God is always at work. One day, the sun will rise, and we’ll see the parted waters of rescue, just as the Israelites saw in Exodus 14:21-22. He will not abandon you, His beloved child. 

No matter what you face this week, God is always at work. 

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When my son was little, he was trying to carry around three of his toys, but it was more than his little arms could handle. As he repeatedly dropped a toy, picked it up, and dropped another one, I finally said, “Christopher, you’re carrying too many things.” He looked up at me and replied, “No, I’m carrying three many things!” 

Some days, my worries feel this way—there’s just too many (or three many!) to carry all at once. One of the first Bible verses I memorized as a child was 1 Peter 5:7, and it’s still one of my favorites: “ . . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” But I Peter 5:7 is a sentence fragment. It’s grammatically and ideologically connected to the previous verse: 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all of your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:6-7).  

It requires humility to stop trying to manage and control our own circumstances and acknowledge that we are not God. As we’re humbling ourselves, we’re casting all our anxieties on Him. We hurl our worries from our weak hands into His mighty hand, because we are not God, but we know the great I AM. 

Throw your financial uncertainties on Him. He is your provider. 

Throw your family worries on Him. He loves your loved ones even more than you do. 

Throw your failures on Him. He saves you by His grace and mercy. 

Throw your fears for the future on Him. His purposes cannot be thwarted, and He will be faithful to you. 

As you let go of your worries and cast them on the Lord, you can have confidence that He will receive them. As verse 7 promises, He cares for you. Your worries do not fall on deaf ears or a hard heart. Your cares are cared for by your Heavenly Father. 

No matter what you face this week, cast your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 

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Several years ago, my son and I joined his classmates at nearby camp for a day of activities. The schedule included hiking, nature studies, and a visit to one of those bizarre ropes-course contraptions that you only find at camp. This one is called “The Screamer.”

One by one, they harnessed in a kid, and the rest of the classmates pulled on a big rope to hoist the victim to what seemed like a totally irresponsible height. Then the kids on the ground would let go of the rope and the daredevil would go swinging through the air like a giant pendulum until the laws of physics eventually brought him to a stop. 

I thought, It’s a good thing this is only for kids. 

And then they asked if any of the moms wanted to try. 

I never want to pass up an opportunity to make memories with my kids. So I strapped on that harness and up I went. All I could think in the moment before the kids let go of the rope was, “I really hope this harness holds.” 

What are you trusting to hold you today as you fly through life? God’s Word says those who belong to Him are held by His righteous right hand:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

His presence is the antidote for our anxiety: “Fear not, for I am with you.” We don’t have to despair, because He is ours, and we are His: “Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Through the storms and trials of life, all the power and guidance we could ever need is provided by His righteous right hand: “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you . . . “ 

God’s got us. He’s not letting go. His righteous right hand will never fail to hold us and provide the strength we need for each moment. 

No matter what you face this week, God holds you with His unfailing strength. 

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