Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because
He cares for you.1 Peter 5:6-7
In this chapter of 1 Peter, Peter leaves final instructions in a letter addressed to fellow believers regarding the way they should conduct themselves both inwardly and outwardly. In 1 Peter, you can find valuable advice that is incredibly applicable for the world we live in today. If you have the time after reading this post, I highly recommend taking the time to read the entire book.
This verse in particular brought up a memory from my childhood, of a sermon my pastor preached one Sunday morning. And if I, who was a hyper and easily distracted child, can still remember what he talked about, you can be sure it made quite an impact.
On that particular Sunday, my pastor chose to preach on the close ties between anxiety and humility.
On the screen behind him was the word “Anxiety” with the “i” in the center in a large, red font.
He pointed to the word. Do you want to know why you are so anxious, he said. The reason you are so anxious is because you have an “I” at the center of your anxiety. You are relying on yourself. You have put yourself in the center of your life, you have placed yourself on the throne. But you can’t sustain that way of living, because it is not your throne. It never was.
You can’t get rid of your anxiety because you are bearing a burden that you were never meant to bear.
Every time I remember this message, it hits me like a ton of bricks. The above verses tell us to cast our anxieties on God because He cares for us. The very act of taking the troubles and worries we face and placing them in God’s hands is an act of humility.
God loves us and cares for us. He wants what is best for us. When we insist on carrying our anxieties by ourself, we fall victim to pride. We make ourself the savior of our story, thinking we can rely on our own strength. But that was never the way God intended it to be. He is our Savior. He is our strength. He is Lord, and we are not.
By humbling ourself and casting our anxieties on Him, we are effectively removing ourself from the throne of our life and giving it back to its rightful owner.
As you go through this week, remember that God cares for you and wants what is best for you. Do not be afraid to bring any and all of your troubles to Him, no matter how small.
Until next time!
-Macy