Casting our Anxiety Upon the Lord

Do you struggle with anxiety?

Many of us do, from the scattered thoughts of the unknown to the incessant fears of a worst-case scenario appearing almost as a roadblock to freedom. When we live a life walking with the Lord it is not just a last resort effort to bring Him our anxieties, but we are in fact encouraged to do so again and again throughout Scripture. What if the act of partnering with God when fear arises is not just to refrain from self-reliance, but it is perhaps a catalyst to enter a deeper, fuller, and a more firmly rooted relationship with God so that anxiety does not become your master?

Peter was a professional fisherman before he was chosen and called by Christ to follow Him. The crafts and occupations held by the disciples and others prior to Christ’s timely call in their lives are not insignificant detail. God wastes nothing, and the skills that were obtained in the time before fulltime ministry and evangelism are ones that have use even in later days. We see this in even the wording used in 1 Peter 5:7 which helps us have a practical and tactical understanding of what it looks like to take anxiety by the throat when it first appears and to bring it to the Lord to handle. The verse offers,

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

What Does it Mean to Cast?

Breaking down this verse and having the knowledge of Peter’s prior profession helps us have a better understanding of what it looks like in application to cast the anxiety that erupts in you. The word for cast here is, epiriptō. According to Dan Downey, “It is the Greek word "epiripto," a compound or joining of the two Greek words epi and ripto. The word "epi" means upon, as on top of something. The word "ripto" means to hurl, to throw, or to cast, and it often means to violently throw or to fling something with great force.” In fishing, especially professional fishing the act of violently throwing or flinging a net out with great force would be done with a net that it would extend the full net. This would be done so that the net would not become entangled in itself, which would only cause more frustration and work. When we cast our cares on the Lord our cast must be done so in full, not a half-hearted way. The Lord wants all of our struggle, not just the portions and pieces we think He can somehow untangle. Our part requires action and surrender to Him, but He is the Only One Who is worthy and capable of handling us in our entirety. God wants all of you, not just the easy to work with parts.

How Anxiety Divides

The next portion of the verse after casting involves what we are indeed casting upon Him, which is our anxiety, our care, our overwhelm. This word is, “merimna” and it can mean more than just the spike in blood pressure of an undo thought. According to Strong’s 3307 it holds the root in the Greek word μερίζω (merizō, Strong’s 3307), which is translated to divide, or to separate.” These anxieties divide and separate you from peace, from a sound mind, and from joy. This is why it is imperative that we not cling to them or allow them to abide within us, for they will only continue to divide and conquer our state of wellbeing.

Worry is often a poor use of the gift of imagination. Just as the human mind is capable of creating vivid stories, worlds, and ideas to captivate in wonder, it can also open the door to crippling panic. The enemy likes to prey upon this panic to chain up a person so that they question everyone and everything, depending on the situation burdening them so that they no longer even believe there is goodness to be found in their lifetime. These trepidations are not your portion in this life, but they are ones that we often find ourselves wrestling or bearing at times daily. They are a heavy coat to wear in an already arduous world.

God Wants All of You

Why on earth would God want to take then these pernicious burdens? Why would He encourage us to surrender them over? Of what use are they to Him, and why should our earthly problems become His to handle? The answer is very simple: because He cares for you. The word used here is, “melei” which simply means tender loving care. A proper reminder to every scheming intrusive thought of the enemy as to why would God care about your problems can be answered by Romans 8:32,

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

If God would send His own Son, Jesus to deliver us from all, then why would He stop there? Would He not then care about all of your anxieties, not just the easy to solve ones?

A Call to Arm Yourself

Casting our cares upon Him is just one part of entering into the freedom that can be found in the Lord through surrender in this way. We can additionally pray for an equipping by the Holy Spirit for resources, tools, armor, and gifts that can only be found in and through God. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that we have access to a sound mind,

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Daily we can enter a deeper, fuller examination with the Lord by inviting Him into our hearts, our minds, and our spirits to be searched so that all is exposed. This is not to make us freeze up that we are completely seen, rather, it is to know that He already knows us in our entirety, but in bearing all to Him we can then do something about the segments that need His healing, His revelations, or His refinement. David encourages how to pray to do this through Psalm 139:23-24,

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there is any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

When we stop evading this practice what we find is that God will not throw us away because there are tarnished and dirty parts of our being. We will not be met with rejection from the Father, but instead with help in places that we do not have the ability to correct or assist ourselves. True freedom comes not from concealing our struggles, hurts, anxieties, and raw edges, but in allowing God to do what only He can do after we have cast them unto Him.

Meet Him like David Did

God wants your damage, your brokenness, and your ruins. He wants the fears that have ransacked your brain, because when we stop striving in our own efforts to control them, we find that just as He is the One Who can. Jesus stopped a raging storm with a word, and He can calm the storms that overtake you. David yet again reminds us of the access we have to the Father in Psalms as he shares “I sought the Lord and He answered me, And rescued me from all my fears.” David was not just calmed down; he was not just placated with some cliché saying, he rescued from all his fears. Just like David we too have opportunity to experience this freedom through the Father. Meet the Lord in the Secret Place to commune and to find access to this precious gift.

The Secret Place

You have access to the Secret Place in God. Psalm 91:1 describes this Holy haven as,

“One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:1-2

The Secret Place of the Lord, within the shadow shelter of the Most High is where we can hand over all that burdens us, all that seeks to thwart our peace, and all that we carry in fear. It is there that we have the sacred opportunity to relinquish the weight of our afflictions and allow God to speak into each and every aspect of life. Inquire of the Lord what He wants to speak to you in the Secret Place of His refuge and trust that in His timing, in His ways, and in His wisdom, you will be met with hope and help. What you will discover more than anything else is the miracle is not found in the relief of an anxiety or the removal of a worry, it is not found in the refreshment of peace given unto you, but the true miracle is His presence with you. In every moment of the journey of life, in every panic that swirls the mind, and in every grasped breath to keep moving forward the greatest gift and miracle of all is that He remains steadfast, present, and with you through it all. He is our portion and our refuge, and it is in casting cares, worries, anxieties, and fears that we then can have the space for Him to be even closer to us. Anxiety causes distance between us and God, but when we cast that anxiety on Him it is then that we draw nearer to His embrace.

Sources:

Dan Downey, “Learning to Cast is a Key to Success!”

Strong’s Concordance

Blue Letter Bible NASB