I hear it a lot and you probably do too. It’s kind of the go-to remark for some when talking to someone who is facing a lot of difficulties, has lost a loved one, or anything of like nature – you’ll hear someone say “just turn it all over to God.” In fact, I’ve heard it so much it’s almost become cliché. Please don’t get me wrong I’m not questioning the sincerity of anyone who has ever said this. I have no doubt that it has been said with the greatest of intentions. It’s just that sometimes we don’t know anything else to say so we say what we can, like this, and hope that it will do.
But while we may say it only because we don’t really know anything else to say and we may not know exactly what it means, it’s true. We should turn our problems, our difficulties, and our struggles over to God. But what does it mean? In my mind it is the idea of not worrying. It is accepting the reality that whatever problems, difficulties, or struggles we face can be alleviated by trusting in the power of God. In our weaknesses we can and will be made stronger through our faith in God. That faith in God encompasses the reality that He still works to take care of us in every issue we face. That faith means we know He still cares whether our struggles are material/physical or spiritual.
On a material level Jesus said,
“Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).
In other words His promise is that if we place our trust in Him and pursue His will first in our lives that any physical/material weaknesses or needs we have will be met (vs. 33).
But more importantly on a spiritual level we see the exact same promise offered. In fact, Paul found himself in that very position in 2 Corinthians 12 when he said:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (vs. 7-10).
I think in many ways that is exactly what Paul said he did. When he found life too difficult to bear he just turned it all over to God. That is he quit worrying about his own weaknesses and he started to rely on God’s strength.
What a powerful message that is for us, to know that in whatever problematic position we find ourselves in in life that if we truly belong to God (as His children) that we don’t have to worry about the difficulties our own weaknesses will bring. Because the fact is that we can rely on a God who has more than enough strength to provide. In that way, yes, we turn it all over to God – and we should.
-Andy Brewer