This weekend we had a major ice storm come through Missouri. I ventured out of my home on Saturday morning for an appointment and was sad to see so many broken trees on my street in my neighbor’s front yards.

I was instantly reminded of a story I told about a picture lesson the Lord showed me years ago, which I shared in my book, Road to Transformation.  Below is that story.

We had experienced a very bad ice storm in Missouri. A few days after the bad weather, I was traveling between my work locations. As I was praying while driving down that rural highway, my attention was suddenly drawn from the road in front of me to the trees beside me. These were very tall pine trees along both sides of the road. The one on the left side of the road bowed over with the weight of the ice. I heard the Lord clearly say:

“This is a picture of how so many of my people are….weighed down by the cares and concerns of this life, because they will not give them to me.”

Then my attention immediately went to the other side of the road. The trees on this side had been exposed to sunlight since the storm ended. All of the ice had melted away from these trees and they stood as tall as they normally should. This reminded me of another Scripture.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NASU

The picture lesson continued. Next, I noticed the trees, which had not been able to bear the weight of the ice that had broken, and were destroyed. Since I was picturing these trees as God’s children, I asked Him in my prayer, “Lord what about the ones which have been destroyed?” Immediately, in my mind, I saw a picture of a huge Victorian house, and I heard Him say, “I can build something new out of them!” Then I saw a vivid picture of a roaring fire and He said, “They do not have to lay on the roadside and rot! They will never be a tree again, but I can make something great out of them, if they will let Me!” It is amazing what God can do with broken pieces, and vessels others may consider in the natural to be worthless and insignificant.

The lesson the Lord was showing me, was that we had options after a crisis. Some were still so weighed down with the cares, with the grief, and with the mourning. They could cast those cares over on the Lord and He would help all of those concerns to melt away. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what He is asking us to do:

“Casting 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.: 1 Peter 5:7 Amplified Bible

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 NASU

That word “casting” means to throw. If we throw all our cares over on Him then we don’t carry them…..We trust in His provision and stay in faith believing that we don’t need to be concerned.

Just last night I had an opportunity to put this in practice again. My family was going through several different difficulties at the same time.  After I had done what I could to help, I was alone back at my home and I was cleaning and praying.  At one point, I realized that I was actually striving in prayer instead of casting my care!  It was as if I thought if prayed loud enough or long enough I would see the desired result.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in persistent prayer, but I realized that was not at all, what I was doing. I was hanging clothes up when I had this revelation and I stepped back from the closet and said, “Lord, I trust you!  I cast these cares over on You and I believe your Word and Your promises that You will never leave me or forsake me!  I place my family’s needs in Your capable hands and I trust You to intervene on our behalf!

Immediately, I had such a peace rush over me. What a privilege we have as believers to take our needs to God and then rest in the knowledge that He is for us and not against us!  If you feel like one of those trees covered in ice under a heavy load, I encourage you to cast those cares over on the Lord.  Get in His presence and let Him melt all those cares away.