1 PETER 5:7 Context
In this short letter, Peter gives Christians hope in the midst of unjust suffering. He tells the recipients of his letter that his message is intended to testify.
1 PETER 5:7 Meaning
If we are to “stand fast” in the true grace of God, what does that mean for us when we are going through a heart-pounding season of worry or anxiety?
First, let’s turn back the clock and remember an important truth about Peter. He wasn’t just a spectator to the life of Jesus. He walked with him.
He learned from him. He ate with him. He walked on water toward him. Notoriously, he denied him. And ultimately, he was embraced and forgiven by him.
All that to say, Peter spent a lot of time observing Jesus during his earthly ministry. That means Peter had firsthand knowledge of how our Savior not only withstood suffering himself but how he took on our suffering as well.
Peter witnessed Jesus’ compassion for others. He saw Jesus cast out demons. And he could tell you some pretty fascinating stories about how Jesus calmed storms—not just the ones on the sea, but the ones on the inside of real souls.
That’s the kind of storm-calming Jesus we find in today’s verse—the one who takes our fears and anxieties upon himself. In fact, Peter reminds us that when we are worried, we can do more than simply take our concerns to the Lord.
We can cast them upon him! In the Greek, cast means to hurl, throw, or fling. When we cast our anxiety on God, it doesn’t mean all our worries disappear.
But it does mean that God will carry the load for us—no matter what we throw at him. Why would God do such a thing? Peter tells us why in today’s verse: “. . . because he cares for you.”
1 PETER 5:7 Application
Do you ever feel like you don’t know where to go with your anxiety and your worries?
Maybe you’ve had someone tell you that the answer to anxiety is to “stop worrying,” as if anxious thoughts can be turned off with a switch. But that’s not how God operates.
God doesn’t tell you to ignore your anxiety or to simply “stop worrying.” He doesn’t say there’s something wrong with you if you have anxiety.
He is saying, “Give it all to me. In fact, you can actually throw it all on me! Because I really do care about you.”
“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.”