Coping with Care

An average person's anxiety is focused on :
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced

Coping with Care

1 Peter 5:7:
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Carry your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life.

It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, to admit your need, and let others in God’s family help you.

Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God’s concerns. But when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight even of those struggles.

Letting God have your anxieties calls for action, not passivity. Don’t submit to circumstances but to the Lord, who controls circumstances.

1. Some Are Care(less)

Zephaniah 2:15:
… the city that dwelt carelessly…how is she become a desolation…

A. There are many careless people in today’s world. Their lives are in jeopardy- physically and spiritually.

B. Accidents are caused by carelessness. Financial loss is sustained and lives are lost through careless living.

C. Many are careless about spiritual things. They fail to accept Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. Christians often neglect their prayer life, church attendance, and service to God.

D. God is displeased with careless living. He sent His Son to die for our sins. He expects us to be good stewards of our lives- diligent in love and service.



1 Peter 4:18:
18)AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

If the righteous are barely saved (only because of Gods mercy), what chances have those who reject Christ?

2. Some Are Care(full)

Philippians 4:6:
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

A. Millions are weighed down with the burden of sins. This load is too heavy for them to bear.

B. Jesus came to take away our sins. We can be set free from the bondage and burden of sin by exercising repentance and faith.

C. Many Christians are filled with care and anxiety. They struggle through life, trying to carry their own burdens and the responsibility for others.

D. God is displeased when His people are full of care. We must cast our care on Him. He wants to relieve us of our burdens.

1 Peter 5:7:
7Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

We do not have to carry so many of the burdens that we take on ourselves! When you are following Him, you do not need to worry about where you are going, He knows the way! Just get in that yoke with Jesus. Believe on HIM, follow HIM, keep your eyes on HIM and go where HE leads, and you will end up right where you need to be, no need to stress out about it! He is MORE than capable of handling the details, just follow Him


Matthew 11:28-30:
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The yoke emphasizes the challenges, work, and difficulties of partnering with Christ in life.

Responsibilities weigh us down, even the effort of staying true to God. But Jesus yoke remains easy compared to the crushing alternative.

Jesus doesn’t offer a life of luxurious ease- the yoke is still an oxen’s tool for working hard. But it’s a shared yoke, with weight falling on bigger shoulders than ours. Someone with more pulling power is up front helping.

Suddenly you are participating in life’s responsibilities with a great partner- and now that frown can turn into a smile, and that gripe into a song.





3. Some Are Care(free)
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free,

Christ came to set us free- not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires.

Rather thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before- to live unselfishly.

A. Many Christians are in bondage, but this is displeasing to God. It is His will that His children be set free.

B. Total commitment to God liberates us from bondage or self.

C. Helping the less fortunate, visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved, and sharing Christ with unsaved brings freedom from self-centeredness.

D. Simple trusting faith- just taking Christ at His word- brings freedom. Only Christ can enable us to cope with care.


John 8:32-36:
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan.


He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus, Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.

Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. Jesus can free you from this slavery that keeps us from becoming the person God created us to be. If sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving you, Jesus can break its power over your life.