Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)

Thank goodness my trout bait was half the size of a pea…

I stood in a creek flinging a black gnat into an eddy, immersed in my fishing space—when a “yelp!!” splashed me awake. My eyes followed my tangled line to where my six-year-old sat.

I had hooked the back of his curly red head.

I reeled (him) in a bit, de-hooked him, then dabbed his head with cool water while he muttered indignantly.

“Remember: Don’t stand behind Dad when he’s casting. Okay?”

“Okay…”

I did empathize. I had hooked my own ear, my hat, and scalp a time or two. I can’t help smiling every time I see the word “cast” now—even in the Bible.

One of the greatest challenges we face as believers is to consistently cast our CARE upon Jesus Christ.

Among the Greeks and Romans in the Apostle Peter’s day, the word “cast” meant to “throw” something with various degrees of force.

When Peter encourages us to cast all our anxiety on him [God], he is counseling us to fling off emotional distractions that keep us from thinking straight.  

Casting away care means that we stop analyzing, scheming, manipulating, and planning maneuvers to save ourselves or others from trouble. Casting off care is the first action we should take when confronting a trial. By casting cares on God, our “insurmountable” problem will be solved by him—not us.

The word “cast” used by the Apostle Peter conveys that we must intentionally sever the endless loop of worry that ties us in knots. God is undistracted in attending to our problems, so:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

Our jettisoned anxiety does not float in the ether. Our concerns land squarely upon Jesus’ shoulders to be dealt with in HIS way and in HIS time.

Where peace replaces anxiety, solutions grow.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken (Psalms 55:22).