Casting All Your Care Upon Him

by Frank Viola

The pages of the New Testament are filled with the glorious realities of our inheritance in Christ. A great deal of our inheritance can be enjoyed now. The spiritual realities of our inheritance are the great "facts" of our faith. They are true whether we believe them or not. Sometimes, however, the New Testament gives us practical instruction on how to experience and enjoy these wonderful realities. One such piece of instruction is found in Peter's first letter. 

Peter is writing to a group of churches in Northwest Asia who are suffering untold persecution. Because of the persecution, they are fearful and full of anxiety and worry. In Chapter 5:6-7, Peter gives them this practical word:

"Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

The New Testament authors testify over and over again that Jesus Christ is sufficient for every need, every desire, every problem, every challenge, every demand, and every struggle. He is enough to meet all of it. They also carry on rather loudly about the fact that Christ is Peace to God's children. A peace that "passes knowledge and understanding."

Experiencing Christ as Peace requires that we actively lay hold of Him as our Peace. How do we lay hold of this incredible peace that flows from the Lord? Peter tells us. It is by casting all of our care . . . our anxiety . . . our worry, upon the Lord, for He cares for us.

The first step to achieving the Lord's peace is simply to humble yourself under God's mighty hand. Among other things, this means to accept the unexplained twists and turns of His providence. It means believing that God has a good and positive purpose for allowing everything to come into your life. It also means entrusting the situation to the Lord and bowing to His mighty power rather than to take it into your own hands to try and fix or manipulate it. 

The second step, which is an outflow of humbling yourself under God's hand, is to "cast" your care upon the Lord. "Care" in this passage means anxiety, worry, concern, or even fear. To "cast" means to throw something upon someone else. The same verb is used in Luke 19:35 where the disciples toss (or cast) their cloaks over a donkey to make a saddle for Jesus. 

The idea here is one of transference. To cast my anxiety, worry, and care upon the Lord means that I transfer it from myself to Him. When I do this, the anxiety is no longer mine. I've given the issue to my God, and it's His business now. The basis for this transference is His care for me.

In our world, the pressure to worry comes from every direction. There is a great deal in life to be anxious over. However, to accept worry and anxiety is rooted in the belief that we must take care of ourselves because God will not take care of us. 

Let that marinate for a moment.

Over the years, I've learned to apply Peter's instruction. Very recently, I was faced with a situation where I was tempted to worry and be anxious. I had just returned from a long overseas trip and an important piece of luggage was held up in a foreign city. This piece of luggage contained non-replaceable items that were very precious to my family and I. Ten days passed and the luggage still had not returned, nor was there any information to trace its whereabouts. On top of that, there was no promise that it would be returned. 

After the first day, I took a moment to get quiet, and I turned to the Lord saying, "Lord, I have anxiety about this luggage being lost. I care about it very much. But I cast the care of it over on you. It's yours now. I refuse to worry about it any longer. For you care for me." 

I then walked forward without looking back. Whenever a thought of anxiety or worry would pop into my head, I would immediately resist it. Sometimes I would have to open my mouth and under my breath say, "No! I refuse to worry about this. I've given the care of it over to my God. It's His business now." And I would again reaffirm my trust in the Lord. (I've learned that you cannot be assaulted with a thought of unbelief or fear while your mouth is speaking. Your mind has to stop and listen to what comes out of your mouth!)

Thankfully, the luggage was eventually found. But even if it hadn't been, the Lord's care would have made up the difference and it would have been enough. There really was no need for me to worry.

I have been walking this way for years, and as a result, I've enjoyed the Peace that is mine in Christ. 

As Christians, we have been made free from worry and anxiety. Peace is part of our inheritance. For this reason, Paul told the Philippians "Do not worry about anything" (Philippians 4:6). Jesus Himself gave a lengthy discourse on why His followers have no need to worry (Matthew 6:25-34). Even in the Old Testament, we have echoes of Peter's instruction about casting our care upon the Lord:

"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22).

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are part of a new species. To humble yourself before the Lord and cast your care upon Him is natural to you as a Christian. It is how the Lord Jesus Himself lived while on earth. He was the most care-free person in the universe. He cast all of His care upon His Father. Jesus Christ lived worry-free. Since the same Spirit that was in Christ is now in you, you can respond to the Lord in the same way, making God your source. The Spirit is willing. Remember, God the Father loves and cares for you just as much as He loves and cares for Jesus! (John 17:23)

So take a quiet moment to hand your burden, your care, your anxiety, and your worry to the Lord. For He cares for you. Believe that. And when you are tempted to take it back into your own hands, take your place in Christ and stand against all anxiety, reaffirming the Lord's care for you. In so doing, you will know Christ as your Peace in times when it is logical to worry.

Published 2005