As we journey through life, we’ll face circumstances that may cause us anxiety. Anxiety can cause us to catastrophize the situation and then we find ourselves in a downward spiral. We should not borrow trouble from tomorrow because many of the things we worry about won’t even happen. The Apostle Peter gave us a strategy for alleviating the burden of anxiety. Perhaps Peter was recalling the words of the Psalmist:

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)

Or maybe Peter was thinking of the admonition of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)

Jesus mentioned some of the common concerns that may cause us to worry. The Greek words used for worry and anxiety describe the idea of being pulled apart. To worry is in essence to have a divided mind. Anxiety has been described as the interest paid on trouble before its due. When we face difficult circumstances, we may find ourselves being dominated by anxiety and worry. Could it be that anxiety is an indication that we think God cannot take care of us? The question is how do we stop worrying? Peter tells us to give our anxiety to God:

having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

All is the first word in the original language emphasizing that we are to give to God all of our anxiety, not just the big concerns. We discover that it’s often the little things that may cause us to experience ongoing, chronic anxiety. It’s not the load that breaks us down, it’s the fact that we carry it alone.

The word casting literally means to throw upon. What might be a reason that inhibits us casting our anxiety upon Jesus? The context gives us a clue – the preceding verses warn of the sin of pride, so Peter delivered this admonition:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, (1 Peter 5:7)

If we think we can handle the situation, then we’ll try to solve it in our own strength. Peter gives us the reason why we can give our anxieties to God – He cares for us. God is concerned about your emotional well-being and He does not want His children burdened with the cares of this world. Anxiety doesn’t rob tomorrow of its sorrow, but it will sap today of its strength. Give God your anxiety, He can handle it.