Cast all your anxiety on him…
Summary: Life offers us an unlimited supply of anxieties. God offers us an unlimited supply of peace. All we have to do is trust him with our worries and anxiety, and let him do the rest.
Do you have anxiety? That seems like an odd question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t have some anxiety?
Let me ask you another question: Do you know what you are anxious about? Does it have a name? Is there anything else besides that first anxiety that you are anxious about?
Anxiety is a bit like an onion. There are layers of anxiety in our life. The outer layer is the one that we see in front of us right now. Yet, as soon as that one disappears, another one seems to crop up behind it. The supply of potential things to be anxious about is unlimited. (It is a BIG onion!)
But anxieties are harmless, right?
Er… no. Anxieties are not harmless. According to the Mayo Clinic, anxiety can affect your heart rate, breathing, how well you feel, and how well you sleep. It can cause intestinal disorders, other health-related problems, and even turn normal situations into new reasons for anxiety.
So, what to do?
Peter tells us to “cast” our anxiety upon God. How does that work? Why would we do that?
The dictionary tells us that anxiety is a worry about what is going to happen in the future. Why would we worry? Just because we don’t know what will happen? But if we know God, we know someone who does know the future! God already knows what is going to happen. So if God knows what is going to happen, he can steer us in the right direction, right? God can help us avoid things that hurt us.
Peter has just told us how this works. In the last verse, he wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Being lifted up means that he carries us over the bad stuff.
Are there still things we need to go through that are less than pleasant? Maybe. But we have God’s assurance that it will all work out in the end:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
I know what you are thinking. You’re thinking, that sounds good, Jeff, but how do I know that I can trust God to make it all come out okay in the end?
Well, God is God. He did create the world and everything in it. He is the one who decides how it all turns out in the end. (Revelation 20:11-12) Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Nahum, the prophet, advises us that, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him…” The entire Bible, in fact, is a testimony to the faithfulness and righteousness of God.
So trust him. Take your anxiety, whatever it is, and say, “Father, I am giving this anxiety to you. My fear is____________ (fill in the blank), but I trust you. You have promised that ‘in all things’ you work for the good of those that love you, and I love you, Father, above all else.”
And now, all you have to do is to trust Him. And the next anxiety that pops up, do the same for it. Amen.
Application: Start giving your anxiety to God. He has broad shoulders. He can handle it.
Food for Thought: What are the benefits of trusting God with our anxieties?
Better sleep.
Zzzzzz…
There are many. One I will mention is that we will be better prepared to face our spiritual enemy. The next verse in 1 Peter reminds us that our enemy prowls around like a lion looking for his prey. Anxiety makes us easier prey – it is something he uses to make us vulnerable and keep us vulnerable. We don’t want to give him any footholds. Ephesians 4: 26 – 27 (anger is not the only potential foothold into our lives).
Thanks Rich!
Your point is a great one. Anxiety and worry is like trying to fight the enemy with our hands tied behind our back. Trusting God frees us to be fully engaged.
For myself, I tend to get anxious when something is not going the way I want it to. By casting my anxieties to the Lord, it brings me more in line with His will. And being in His will brings peace.
Rob,
Well said! The more we are in line with His will, the more things seem to go right.
It’s interesting, peeling an onion brings tears to your eyes, but if you peel it under water, no tears.
What are the benefits of trusting God with our anxieties?
Being anxious is the result of my faith in my abilities to provide for all I desire and my lack of faith and trust in Gods ability to provide my every need. Jesus covers this fact very well in Matthew. The advantage in every act of faith is I am living in Gods will and have an opportunity to experience a growing relationship with Him. If I am anxious I become so focused on a bunch of what if’s that I miss the many blessings I receive each day. Time with God in study and prayer, my wive, children, peace in the midst of chaos, fellowship with brothers and sisters.
Matthew 6:24-34.
Thank you Ron I guess if you flip it your saying when you give your anxiety to God then your blessed with time to pray, study His word, time with the wife and kids, peace, and fellowship. Its amazing how you can worry or pray but only one of the two is a way to glorify Him and allow our God to be our God.
Yes Brother Tim, you send it back perfectly.
Blessings,
Ron