By 
The familiar biblical phrase, casting our cares upon Him, recently came to mind. The cultural tensions in my country and around the world demand my attention. I also feel my anxiety heighten as I anticipate planning the seasonal celebrations right around the corner. Adding in Covid-19 modifications required for family gatherings makes me want to crawl right back into bed.
As I meditated on how to actually cast my cares upon the Lord, I thought of my colorful grandfather I called “Granddan”. He loved to fish, and often included fishing as part of our family gatherings. He once built a huge flat-bottom boat out of lumber and painted it fire-engine red. He wanted a fishing boat big enough to hold all his friends and grandkids!
This Texas-sized fisherman helped me develop an affinity for another fisherman, the apostle Peter. My grandfather preferred cane poles with hooks and worms. Peter fished with circular nets that required both effort and skill to cast upon the water. I guess that’s why Peter’s admonition to cast all your cares upon Him resonates within my heart. As a disciple, he certainly knew about anxieties. Releasing them to his Lord probably felt very similar to casting his fishing net.
Today, this casting your cares verse graces posters, mugs, and graphic art. When you examine the context though, its catchy sound quickly transforms into a somber admonition.
Peter was possibly under house arrest in Rome and writing to gentile Christians in small Roman enclaves in what is now northern Turkey. In the first part of 1 Peter 5, Peter wrote of persevering in suffering. He reminded the older men to be examples to those they shepherded. He reminded the young men to submit to the older men’s leadership. Peter then included something for everyone else. What he taught is just as timely in the 21st century as it was in the 1st century.
It had been approximately thirty-three years since Christ’s ascension, and Peter had learned a lot about living life as a follower of Christ. He offered seven admonitions that encompassed casting our cares upon Him. It’s these admonitions that bring clarity to how we actually take that very bold step toward emotional release and freedom.
Admonition One:
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
—1 Peter 5:5, CSB (Peter references Proverbs 3:34 here.)
Admonition Two:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you at the proper time. (5:6)
Admonition Three:
casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. (5:7)
Admonition Four:
Be sober-minded, (5:8)
Admonition Five:
be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone he can devour. (5:8)
Admonition Six:
Resist him, (5:9)
Admonition Seven:
(standing) firm in the faith…. (5:9)
There it is. That comforting casting phrase appears within the context of humility and spiritual warfare! Releasing our anxiety is acknowledging that we can’t solve things within our own strength—the very premise of step-one in any twelve-step program. We must acknowledge our powerlessness over our anxiety, similar to someone on their path of recovery from an addiction.
In addition, we need to be very serious about what’s causing us anxiety. It’s imperative to think clearly and to see clearly what’s actually happening. No deception allowed! Clear-headed and humble, we are to be alert to what might be going on behind the scene. Satan uses deception as a favorite strategy for defeating believers. Unless we can see clearly, we’re likely to head off in the wrong problem-solving direction or on a path of denial.
Once we’ve acknowledged our powerlessness, consciously released our anxieties to God, clearly understood the issue, and tuned into Satan’s role—we are able to stand firm in our faith! Why? Peter reminds us: because we’re not alone! Other believers are also suffering around the world. We’re all in this together! Peter personally knew about anxieties and spiritual warfare. He, too, experienced comfort knowing believers were standing with him just as he stood with them.
Peter then closed his letter with a powerful proclamation. I see the strength of this burly fisherman in his parting words: The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you (5:10). Notice he includes a very real-life phrase that re-affirms his previous admonitions: after you have suffered a little while (5:10).
Let’s engage our personal stressors with a strategy in place, then victoriously join Peter in his parting benediction: To him be dominion forever. Amen! (5:11).
Linda Lesniewski
Linda served as Women’s Minister at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX for 24 years. She has authored "A Little Book About Knowing a Big God" for children; "Women at the Cross" and "Connecting Women: A Guide for Leaders in Women’s Ministry", by Revell; as well as "His Story My Story", a digital download available from LifeWay. Linda enjoys spending time with her four young adult children and six granddaughters. She has served on the Womenary Board of Directors for many years.
You can contact Linda at lindalesniewski49@gmail.com. 
