Power over Fear
Anxiety – Part 1

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:7

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

One definition of anxiety says:  “Distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune” (dictionary.com).  We have all experienced anxiety and most of us face it often.  In this life there are so many things that happen around us and to us that will tempt us to live with anxiety.  For Christ followers, we need not cave to it; we can have victory over it.

Our word for today tells us to cast all our anxiety upon Jesus.  The Apostle Peter uses a word he is very familiar with, since he was an experienced fisherman.  Peter had cast his fishing nets many times.  It was an act of throwing them away from himself into the water!  Peter is painting a mental picture for us, telling believers to throw their anxieties away from them.  We are to cast them toward Jesus because He cares for us!

If we are not convinced of Jesus’ love and concern for us, we probably will struggle to truly cast our cares upon Him.  However, as we understand the depth of God’s love for us, we will gain confidence in casting our anxieties toward Him!  The Hebrew writer reminds us: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  If your confidence level is low, take time to study God’s Word to understand His great love for you.  (Continued)

Father, I come to you with confidence not because I have earned it, but because of your great love.  In Jesus’ name, amen.