CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU
Casting all your anxiety… putting all your anxiety on him.
Of course, it is true that some anxiety is physiological in nature and may require medical treatment, but the everyday anxiety most believers deal with is usually rooted in one thing: unbelief, but the Bible says casting all your anxiety about him, let us meditate on this.
Casting all your anxiety on him, verse (1 Peter 1:7)
In 1 Peter 5:7 we are told about casting our anxiety on God, because God cares for us. The verse goes like this: “Casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
Also in Philippians 4:6–7 we are told, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts.” hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Remembering that we are also told to “cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you”
CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM.. BUT WHAT IS ANXIETY?
If the Bible says casting all your anxiety on Him, let’s see what anxiety is
It is very likely that you have experienced anxiety at some point in your life. His heart was pounding, his palms were sweaty and he couldn’t catch his breath, due to a worry he once had. Some people only experience anxiety on occasion; for others, it is an everyday occurrence, but remember that we are told to “cast all your anxiety on him.”
Anxiety comes in the form of a question… casting all your anxiety on him
Anxiety always comes in the form of a “what if” question. For example, you might ask yourself, “What if my health fails?” Or you may be thinking, “What if I lose my job and can’t make my mortgage payment? How am I going to feed my family?” Anxiety is always focused on the future and never on the present, but the Bible says “casting all your anxiety on him.”
Think about this for a minute: Does the future still exist? No. Now, how much control do you have over things that don’t exist? Zero; however, we are told to “cast all your anxiety on Him”
This makes it easy to feel like things are completely out of control. Imagining all the possible ways for events to unfold can be a never-ending road. Before you know it, the world is spinning and anxiety has you in its grip, but… the Bible says “casting all your anxiety on him…
CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, 1 PETER 5:7
Casting all your anxiety on him, because the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith
George Mueller, the 19th century evangelist, was known as a man of great faith and prayer. He said: “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” It has also been said that worry is disbelief in disguise. Let’s also keep in mind “casting all your anxiety on him”.
Casting all your anxiety on him… Jesus Christ presents us with the cure for anxiety: Faith in God expressed through prayer. In Matthew 6:25-33 we are told:
We trust God in prayer when we comply casting all your anxiety on him
Casting all your anxiety on him… “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than the food, and the body more than clothing? (V25)
“Look at the birds of the sky, which do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you, no matter how hard he tries, can add to his his height one cubit?” (V26-27)…Casting all your anxiety on Him…
“And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither work nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of them. And if the grass of the field that today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, God clothes it like this, will he not do much more to you, men of little faith?” (V28-30)…Casting all your anxiety on Him…
In short, it would be casting all your anxiety on him
Jesus could have summed up the whole lesson with these two sentences: “Cast all your anxiety on him.” Show that you trust him by taking everything to him in prayer.
PUTTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE WORRY DOESN’T CHANGE THE FUTURE
We cannot live in the future and we cannot control what happens there. However, we can plan ahead. The actions you take today can have an impact on what happens tomorrow, next month, or next year; however, we are told to “cast all your anxiety on him” to put worries aside.
Certainly, we must be prudent with the decisions we make and we must make plans. But worrying about our future doesn’t help us prepare for it. Jesus spoke extensively about anxiety to his disciples in the verses mentioned above (Matthew 6:27-33), but we are not to worry about tomorrow, but are urged to “cast all your anxiety on Him.”
THE TOLL OF ANXIETY ON OUR BODIES
Anxiety that continues for long periods of time can have detrimental effects on our mind and body. Our brain doesn’t work well under constant levels of exertion and stress; therefore do not forget what we are told: “Casting all your anxiety on Him.”
Anxiety causes our brain to use excessive amounts of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that contributes to our feelings of happiness and well-being. Constant anxiety can deplete our brain’s serotonin stores.
A shortage of serotonin can cause our brains to go into depression, and once that happens, it can be very difficult to reverse. It is critical to our well-being that we take steps to overcome anxiety. The good news? Casting all your anxiety on Him… Anxiety has an antidote, keep your mind in the present.
CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM IS THERE AN ANTIDOTE FOR ANXIETY?
The best way to avoid anxiety is to keep your mind in the present.
As mentioned above, anxiety comes in the form of “what if” questions about the future. The best way to avoid anxiety is to keep your mind anchored in the present. However, this may be easier said than done.
To overcome anxiety, you must be intentional and purposeful in training your mind to focus on the here and now. The good news is that we can learn not to worry.
Imagine that you are taking your giant Saint Bernard dog for a walk. The big dog happily trots alongside you while you enjoy the sun and scenery. Suddenly, a rabbit appears in the bushes and walks away in the opposite direction. Your dog will try to dive into the bushes to chase and catch the rabbit. If the dog is not trained, as big as he is, he will accompany you on that chase through the brush. However, if your dog is trained, you can pull on his leash and call him, and he will return to your side. Then you can continue enjoying your ride.
The same goes for your mind. Every once in a while, your thoughts will jump into the future and you’ll start asking those “what if” questions. It is unavoidable; it will happen. The difference will be whether you have trained your mind to return to the present or whether you are going to let it drag you down the rabbit hole.
WAYS TO RETURN YOUR MIND TO THE PRESENT AND AVOID ANXIETY
How do you train your mind?
First, you can’t just read about how to overcome anxiety. You must put it into practice. The more you practice, the more resilient you will become and the more automatic your response will be when anxiety sets in. Here are some practical ways to bring your mind back to the present:
Technique 3 X 5 + 1
Tim Sanford, the clinical director of Focus on the Family, recommends a technique he calls “3 x 5 + 1.” It’s a great way to focus his attention on what’s going on around him at the moment, rather than on “what if” questions.
If you feel anxious, follow these three steps:
1) Look around you. Name 5 colors that you see.
2) Listen to your surroundings. Name 5 sounds you hear.
3) Name 5 things that you can physically feel, such as the collar of your shirt against your neck or the breeze blowing on your skin.
Once you’ve gone through each of these 3 categories and listed 5 things each, ask yourself this last question: “What should I be thinking about right now?”
This technique of observing your surroundings is a great way to bring your mind back to the present. Go ahead and try it right now!
deep breaths
If you feel yourself becoming anxious, another great way to bring your mind back to the present is to take several slow, deep breaths. Try taking three deep breaths right now. Notice how it calms and relaxes your body and reinforces your focus on the present.
Lean on God casting all your anxiety on him
Paul instructed us on how to overcome anxiety in his letter to the Philippians chapter 4: verses 6-8, which we have already mentioned before.
Spend time daily reading the Bible. If you are feeling anxious or fearful, read the many verses that talk about anxiety and fear. Reading and studying His Word is a great way to focus your thoughts and will bring you peace.
Spend time also talking to God. When we want to talk to someone about our worries and feelings, who better to share them than the One who knows us best? There is nothing more liberating than kneeling before Him and surrendering all of His thoughts and concerns. He really is in control of this and any other situation we may face, so let’s cast all our anxiety on him, because he cares for us.
Put your worries on God, casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you
The apostle Peter said, “Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) The word “cast” means to throw. We put aside our worries and throw them on the great shoulders of God.
God himself will take care of our needs. We cast our worries to God through the…