“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
There was anxiety in Peter’s time. War, disease, violence, political maneuvering, and the challenges of making a living created “Maalox moments” for everyone.
We also live in anxious times.
Then, as now, God invites you to “cast” (e. g. throw, discard, pitch) your anxieties on Him. He does not desire that you be anxious — even for a moment. Why? Because He cares for you. – Luther
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV)
As the channels of the Good News, we live in a “target-rich environment.” That is to say, a disciple of Jesus has ample opportunity to cheer others because most people are ridden with anxiety.
If all we knew was what we read in the newspaper, see on the television, hear on the radio, or read online, we would be anxious about the condition of our food; the safety of public transport; the performance of our educational institutions; the viability of the economy; and the prospects for the future. These are but a few of the anxieties that “weigh down the heart.”
A kind word in such an environment is always welcome. Will you choose to be the candle in the darkness; the cool drink of water in the desert; the smile in the sea of frowns? – Luther
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22, NKJV)
The key to longevity and stability in a wide variety of aspects (e. g. moral, emotional, spiritual, relational) is the act of casting your cares on the Lord. The more of our cares we give to Him, the more of His wisdom, confidence, and strength we receive in return.
The times we prefer to coddle our concerns in the privacy of our minds is the precise time we ought to be casting — throwing — those same concerns onto our heavenly Father. Sharing multiplies our joys and divides our sorrows.
When we choose to keep to ourselves the very concerns that wring all of the joy from life, we deprive ourselves of a Confidant who has never revealed a secret; a Friend who has never betrayed a trust; a Defender who has never been defeated. – Luther
Daily Encouragement 