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READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8, HEBREWS 4:14-16; 1 PETER 5:7\n\n\n\nWhen I was thirteen, I attended my first church camp. I experienced\xa0life-changing things, like when I encountered 1 Peter 5:7, \u201cGive all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.\u201d I\u2019d never noticed this verse before, but that week 1 Peter 5:7 sank into my soul. Because, like most teens, I had\xa0worries and cares! Problem was\u2014exactly HOW do you give them to God?\n\n\n\nWell, over time I learned that giving our cares to God isn\u2019t an event\u2014it\u2019s a process.\n\n\n\nFirst, I remember who I am coming to:\xa0Jesus\u2014God in flesh\u2014who also suffered. In fact, Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus \u201clearned obedience from the things he suffered.\u201d Hmmm\u2026that\u2019s mind-boggling. Even though Jesus\u2019s suffering and obedience are different from ours, it\u2019s incredible to ponder Jesus learning obedience from His suffering.\n\n\n\nThen, I think about why Jesus suffered\xa0on the cross and rose again\u2014out of His great love for me, He chose to personally redeem\xa0me, both from sin and (when He returns) from suffering (Revelation 21:3-4).\n\n\n\nLastly, I remember even Jesus agonized over His suffering.\xa0In Luke 22, we see Jesus face the cross, fervently praying for deliverance from His \u201ccup of suffering\u201d (verses 42-44). Since Jesus truly empathizes with us in our weaknesses,\xa0we know we can boldly come to Him.\n\n\n\nAnd so\u2026 how\xa0do we boldly come to Jesus? Simple\u2014we follow the instructions in Philippians 4:6-8. In this passage, we see\xa0what\xa0to pray about: everything! And we see\xa0how\xa0to pray: \u201cTell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done\u201d (verse 6). And that\u2019s it! We are giving our cares to Jesus. And, as we continue to bring our requests to God (notice the word\xa0\u201ccontinue\u201d), we can experience God\u2019s peace (verse 7). In this way, we can come to Christ whenever we are weary\u2014and find true rest in\xa0Him (Matthew 11:28-30).\xa0\u2022 G. Kam Congleton\n\n\n\n\u2022 In the book of Psalms, we see God\u2019s people giving their cares to Him\u2014often with strong words, even\xa0accusing God of being distant, hurtful, and uncaring (Psalms 6, 10, 88). In times of pain and suffering, God\xa0invites us to come to Him honestly, telling Him just how hurt, angry, or sad we feel. He isn\u2019t afraid or ashamed of our emotions, even if we are. And it\u2019s only in being honest with God that we can truly experience His comfort. We can tell God what we actually want from Him, not just what we think He wants to hear. How\xa0could this truth affect the way you give your cares to God? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about\xa0these things now.\n\n\n\nThen Jesus said, \u201cCome to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and\xa0I will give you rest.\u201d Matthew 11:28 (NLT)