“Casting all your care upon Him (God) for He cares for you” (1Peter 5:7)
“In 1988 Bobby McFerrin produced the first acapella song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I took the title of this article from this song. It may be of interest to some that his first verse went like this: “In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double!”
Before we proceed, I think we need to have a basic definition of what it means to worry. Here is my own definition: “Worry is a continuing concern about conditions over which we have little or no control.”
With these thoughts in mind, let’s take a closer look at what the fisherman Simon Peter wrote about worrying, by the direction of the Holy Spirit of God:
1. The 1st directive gives us the REMEDY against worrying, “Casting all your care upon Him!”
- So, you take every single care you have and cast it upon God Himself!
- The word “casting” is very picturesque – – it is the idea of throwing a blanket on a pack animal, so you don’t have to carry it yourself. Luke 19:35 uses the same word,“And they threw their own clothes on the colt….”
- The word “care” speaks of “an anxious concern based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune.” The word “anxiety” fits well!
- In other words, give each anxiety, care, and worry to GOD!
2.The 2nd directive gives us the REASON for this divine remedy, “…for He cares for you!”
- So, if God Himself wants to carry your load, why should you?
- The grammar here speaks of something God does presently (now) and habitually (continually)! What a great, caring God!!
A final word that now comes from a shepherd and king – – David himself:
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you….” (Psalm 55:22). An older chorus summarizes it well, “Why worry when you can pray? Trust Jesus, He’ll lead the way!
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