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]. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
Casting: to throw away, throw off
Anxiety: to be drawn in different directions, disquietude, encumbrance
Cares: to be of interest to
One thing I like about this verse, is that God knows that we will be anxious, we do have worries. God understands that. But going beyond that God wants us to know that He can handle all those worries and distractions.
In my kitchen is a container we use for trash/garbage. The garbage container is emptied often and the bag is loaded into the larger container in the garage. On Thursday, it's placed out at the curb, and the truck comes and empties the container. I do not want the garbage in my home for various reasons. One—it's garbage. It's useless. The other, it smells bad if left too long. I have NO problem THROWING AWAY the garbage. I don't go into the garage and dig through it to being it back inside. I don't run after the truck to get my garbage back.
Anxiety is like garbage to the soul. It causes confusion. It disrupts peace. And if left too long, it creates a stench as it festers and robs us of joy.
There is no need to store anxiety. There is no need to let it fester. There is no need. Yet, too often we have a storage room full of it.
How do we really throw away the anxiety? How do we empty the storage room of worry?
Look again at the definition of anxiety. "To be drawn in different directions." The first way to throw away anxiety is refocus your heart and mind on God. Don't allow Satan to distract you with the "What ifs", or the "Why me?" or "What will I do?" or any other distraction Satan tries. Refocus!
How do you really refocus? A good place to start is:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
One truth that fits all those categories is.... "He cares about you!"
You are of great interest to God! Think about that for a moment. The God who created the entire UNIVERSE—is interested in YOU! He knows all about you. He knows your past, your present, and your future. He knows what makes you tick — He should, He created you!
Anxiety—the chaos of being pulled in all directions. A place of unrest. A place of confusion. A place of worry. A place of darkness and despair.
Peace— a stillness that God provides. It wells up in the heart and mind, as you focus on God and the truth that HE loves YOU! It's a deep intense peace that calms and comforts, no matter the circumstances around you.
How do you spell relief?
Relief: a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
True relief—
Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.
1 Peter 5:7 (VOICE)
Relief
R: Refocus
E: Empty the Garbage!
L: Leave the garbage at the curb - don't allow it back in
I: Individualize—God cares about ME!
E: Embrace God's love
F: Focus on and enjoy God's peace
