“Cast all your worries 
upon him because 
he cares for you.”  
1 Peter 5:7

It’s such a common response from well-intentioned people: “Put it in God’s hands.” It seems like such a compassionate thing to say to someone (or to yourself) who is dealing with struggles in their life. I’ve said this to people before, too. Yesterday afternoon, a thought crossed my mind, one which I’ve given consideration to in the past. Do we even have the power to put something in God’s hands?

I know the meaning of this phrase is not about power. It’s about surrender. Some things in life are simply beyond our control, so for us to hold on to them, stubbornly believing that we can somehow affect a preferred outcome on our own, is an exercise in futility. By turning our concerns over to God, we believe that we can release ourselves from the burden of owning the issue. I understand this, but…

Throughout my 43-year career in pastoral ministry and Catholic education, I participated in countless gatherings which began with prayer. Quite often, the prayer leader would begin by inviting participants to put themselves in the presence of God. Seriously? Aren’t we all already in God’s presence? I always thought this was a strange way for Catholic professionals to begin prayer.

Yesterday, while walking in San Francisco, I met a two young men who were watching their daughters play soccer at Parkside Square Park, located at 27th & Vicente. One of the Dads mentioned that he had attended Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. I smiled and told him I had a test question for him. He initially squirmed at the thought, but good-heartedly agreed to give it a shot. I said, “Let us remember…”

Immediately the gentleman replied, “…that we are in the holy presence of God.” I congratulated him for providing the correct response. Saint Mary’s College is an educational institution run by the Christian Brothers. In the tradition of the Brothers, communal prayer begins with this brief verbal exchange. Even though I am the product of Jesuit education (high school, undergrad, and graduate school), in my years of teaching, I began class prayer each day using the Christian Brothers’ formula. I would say aloud, “Let us remember…” My students, in unison, would respond, “…that we are in the holy presence of God.” Then, after a brief pause, prayer would continue. 

My point is that there is no need, nor is it even possible, for us to “put ourselves” in God’s presence. We are already there! Using this same rationale, I question the recommendation that I, and so many others, have casually given to people that they “put their problem (whatever it is) into God’s hands.” God already knows what’s going on. God already cares what’s going on. God already wants us to be happy.

Yes, we have the ability to surrender our troubles to God, but this is not about us putting anything in God’s hands. It’s about us acknowledging that our concerns are already in God’s hands. This, in itself, should bring us a tremendous sense of peace.