1 Peter 5:7-8

1 Peter 5:7-8 says "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert."

I've read this verse before.  In fact, I've read it over and over when I was feeling anxious.  But, I don't know that I've ever tried to take it deeper than the words that are written.  What does it mean to me?

I took some time with this one!   The very first word, cast, gave me a lot of insight.  That doesn't simply mean give.  I means to hurl - throw it away from you towards God.  LOSE it!  Lose that anxiety!

And not just some of it - give it all away!

The definition of anxiety says it is caused by fear.  And 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God does not give us a spirit of fear.  That anxiety was never meant to be ours in the first place!

Why do we need to give him our fear?  Because he cares about us!  He loves us and has great plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Once we give our anxieties to him, we are off the hook, right?  Nope!  he wants us to do our part - to work for it with his help.  It won't be easy, but we can do it without fear and doubt.

So, if I were to re-write 1 Peter 5:7-8, it would look like this:

Lose my fear and doubt to God, throw it at Him!  He's got this!  He loves me and has better plans for me than I can make for myself.  But I'm not off the hook.  I must focus on the goal and make good choices. I need to stay aware of fear and doubt when they try to creep back.  

How do you see these verses working in your own life?