Most of us are familiar with 1 Peter 5:7:
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
As I was reading in 1 Peter, I was struck by what the precursor to this verse was...
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5: 5b-7)
I was convicted that the first step before casting my anxiety on the Lord, was to humble myself before Him. God doesn't necessarily give grace to everyone (ie: the proud), but he pours out grace on those who are willing to humble themselves.
For me, this means admitting that I can't carry the worry, fear, doubt, and anxiety that come from them by myself. It means that I've gotten to the end of myself and I know I need a power larger than myself to step in. It means saying, "I can't do this on my own."
I used to think, that as a Christian, I shouldn't be anxious - that God was somehow disappointed in me if I wasn't blissfully trusting in Him at all times. I've learned the errors of my thinking. God does not say we won't be anxious. Even the most devout Christian will experience worry, fear, doubt, and anxiety. In fact we will all experience a lot of it in our lifetime. That's a given.
God knows this and He lovingly invites us to cast ALL those cares upon Jesus.
Mind you, though, laying your burdens at the foot of the cross or casting your anxiety upon Him is no easy task.
I am the queen of laying my burdens at the foot of the cross and then picking them back up to stew on them awhile longer. I have trouble laying them down, letting go, and walking away.
Similarly, think about the fishermen when they cast their fishing nets. The act of casting takes a lot of strength. Those nets are darned heavy and to heave them out of the floor of the boat and cast them as far away from the boat as possible takes strength, determination, and power (sometimes a supernatural power is needed to lift our weakened arms and cast those nets of anxiety).
Sometimes it takes our very last ounce of strength to lay our burdens down or to cast our anxiety upon the Lord.
Think then too about the word "cast". When I think of casting my anxiety, I think of flinging, throwing far, hurling, casting those anxieties as far away from the boat (my heart) as possible.
If I will but humble my heart before Him, Jesus lovingly bids me to lay my burdens at His feet and let Him pick them up and carry them for me.
He tells me to cast the anxiety (that I will no doubt feel from time to time) upon Him. Fling it as far away from myself as possible so that I will not even be able to pick it back up again.
Cast my cares and anxiety upon Him....Why? Because He cares for me!
Jesus cares so deeply about me and about you. He knows how oppressive our worries and anxieties can be. The world is filled with them. But, Jesus doesn't leave us to fend for ourselves. He wants to take our burdens upon Himself and carry them for us, just like He took our sins upon Himself and gave us salvation in return. Oh, what a wonderful Savior we have.
What worry, fear, doubt, or anxiety have you been carrying alone? Do you truly believe that Jesus wants to carry it for you? Are you willing to humble yourself before Him and ask for His strength to cast those anxieties upon Him and let Him deal with them so that you can live the abundant life He desires for you?
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you and praise you that I don't have to walk this anxiety-laden life alone. Thank you for giving me your Son Jesus who took all my sins upon Himself. Thank you, Jesus, for not stopping there....for inviting me to lay my burdens at your loving feet and to cast all my anxiety upon you so that you can take it and handle it for me. Thank you for exchanging my worries and fears for your peace that passes all understanding. Help me to humble myself and turn over to you what tears me up inside. Help me to know deep in my soul how much you love and care about me. Let this become my truth. In your precious name I pray, Amen.
Be blessed....at the end of the week I will be attending the "She Speaks" writers and speakers conference. I may just take a break from posting next week, or who knows, maybe I will have been so inspired that I'll have lots to say. Just wanted to give you a heads up :)
