Anxiety comes at us in many forms—all the way from a child that’s nervous about taking a test at school to a full-blown freak-out, or even a panic attack. Our fast-paced and demanding culture creates anxiety as a daily by-product. So learning a biblical response is a great resource and tool for battling the emotions, feelings, and toxicity of anxiety.

1 Peter 5:7 is a well-known and often-quoted verse that offers some great advice.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (NIV)

Understanding the original language behind this verse actually brings the concept to life. The Greek word that has been translated to our word “cast” means to violently throw, to hurl, to fling something with great force. This verse does not mean to carefully lay your cares down at the feet of Jesus. It literally means to throw them upon Him as in “Here, take it! I can’t handle this!”

How many times has someone said to you—“Hey, don’t put that on me!”? Isn’t it fascinating that God actually encourages us to throw something on Him?

Let’s look at the passage around verse 7 for more context.

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. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Isn’t it interesting that the Bible always compares us to sheep and never donkeys or camels or horses? God did not design us to be beasts of burden. Sheep are never used to carry anything. So we are also not made to carry burdens, cares that weight us down. So we are to humble ourselves by realizing we can’t handle it. We cast, we throw, we hurl, we fling our cares on God. And He will restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast.

Right now, what are you carrying that is creating anxiety for you?

What is your child carrying that is creating anxiousness?

What cares can you cast to God?

Maybe talk to your kids about the difference in sheep and donkeys? Being anxious is trigger to know it’s time to get rid of something.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You made us to give burdens to You and not carry them. Help me, remind me, when I start to get weighed down and anxious to throw my cares on You. Help me to teach this to my kids and lead them by example. As above, so below.”