“casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I’m a worrier by nature. If my kids are late or I can’t get in touch with them, I’m quick to assume the worst. If something bad or stressful happens, I’ll perseverate over it for hours – sometimes days. On and on my mind goes imaging the worse, but when all is said and done, the outcome was nothing worth worrying over to begin with. It’s funny how my mind works. And, I imagine I’m not alone.  

I love the imagery in this verse. The Greek word for “casting” is epirrhíptō which means to throw something upon (literally or figuratively) or to place upon. The suffix “-ing” is a present and future participial that changes the meaning of a word from a single action – to cast, a one time action, to a habitual and ongoing action. The word used here indicates a continual casting of worries or anxieties or concerns. It’s active and ongoing. 

As weird as it sounds, the picture that comes to mind is serving in GIK at OCC the last few weeks. The GIK area – gifts in kind – is an area in the middle aisle where we fill up large bins with “extra” items used to supply tables that need to add items to boxes. It’s not an easy area. The work is fast and physical. We constantly grab items and dump them into awaiting bins, then we go get more. Our arms get tired. Our feet get sore. And, as we proved on the first day, you can’t do it alone. Just like we had to have help in the middle, we have to have help carrying our worries and anxieties. Fortunately, there is One who is able to handle whatever we throw at Him. 

I found one more thing interesting about this passage. The Greek word used here, epirrhíptō, is used only one other place in the New Testament, Luke 19:35, when the people cast their garments at Yeshua when He made His triumphal entry. Some fell on the colt and Yehsua sat upon them. Some fell on the ground and Yeshua rode over them. Casting the garments before Him that day was a sign of worship, humility, and submission as the people took off the outer cloak that served as a mark of their identity. Likewise, worry can be an identity I carry or wear, and casting it before Him can be a sign of my worship, humility, and submission to Him. When I grab the anxiety floating in my mind and throw it at His feet, I’m declaring His sovereignty over all things. 

In this season of busy, may we be ever mindful of Who we celebrate and give Him the gift of our whole heart, worries included. 

Father – thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for speaking day after day. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 1-5

December 20, 2022