Cast Your Cares, Being Anxious for Nothing

When God has something to say to you, He’s going to make sure you get it. 

One morning, a couple months back, I opened YouTube and there was a video from one of Pastor Phillip Anthony Mitchell’s sermons at 2819. The video was titled, “Do Not Be Anxious and Worry for He Will Provide.” Because of the space that I was in at the time, I felt it was right on time, so I took a listen. I had never seen this specific page before and hadn’t had a 2819 sermon pop up on my feed in a while. To be honest, I've probably only watched 1, maybe 2, sermons from 2819. Fast forward to a couple of hours later when I went to read the day’s Small Straws in a Soft Wind devotional by Marsha Burns the first line read, “You must offer up the things you worry about as a sacrifice to Me.” I chuckled a little because I had the feeling that the devotional would touch on worry even before I opened it. God was confirming His word to me. Pastor Mitchell spoke from Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus talks about why we should not worry pointing to God’s faithfulness, while Mrs. Burns referenced 1 Peter 5:6-7, which encourages us to cast our cares on God because He cares about us. Both scriptures were exactly what I needed and still need. They were necessary reminders and a comfort… God had me and has me no matter the situation and circumstances. That reminder and comfort are for you, too. 

If we want to live our lives free of worry and anxiety, we must be humble enough to submit those things that cause worry and anxiety to God, giving our cares to Him knowing He is sovereign and greater than anything that we may be facing or dealing with. We need humility to go to Him by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving to make our requests known. 

Casting our care is surrendering the care unto Him, relinquishing the control or attempt of control to Him. It’s choosing to stop trying to figure it out on our own and in our own abilities and letting Him move on our behalf. Letting Him give us the direction, which may be to do nothing and rest in His omnipotence. 

In a conversation, my sister told me she “stopped worrying when she realized it didn’t change her situation,” or something along those lines. Also, I remember hearing someone say, “worrying is praising the problem.” Whew, both were strong reminders to look to God despite my situation, to praise Him instead of what I was going through because although the situation is the situation, He is God and greater than any situation I face. Although the situation is the situation, He is God and greater than any situation you are facing. He is with you, right now, in whatever moment you are in. 

One thing I try to keep at the forefront of my mind is that God is with me, even in my times of suffering and hardship; even in times of distress. He’s with me in the valleys just as He is with me at the mountain top. When I begin to feel the onset of anxiety or worry, I remind myself of these things. 

In His omniscience, He knows when we’re anxious, which is why His word tells us to not be and to turn to Him in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving informing Him about how we feel, so we can get it out. Because of His love and care for us, scripture also encourages us to cast our cares on Him, to tell Him what’s going on with us. He listens. He is present. When we cast our cares to Him in transparency, vulnerability, and humility it makes room for Him in our situation, in our hearts, and in our minds so that anxiety and worry will no longer constrain us or have power over us.

A pertinent part of Pastor Mitchell’s message was his encouragement for listeners to make the declaration, “I will not worry”. This highlights the power of the tongue and speaking over your own life, encouraging your own self in faith. In that moment I received his encouragement and made the declaration over my life. It wasn’t just a simple parroting of what he said, but I said it intentionally in faith and with a heart of humility, which acknowledged my weakness and inability to do it on my own. I invited Holy Spirit in and let Him know I needed His help to not worry. I recognized that naturally my flesh will worry and be anxious. It is only through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that I overcome worry and anxiety. He is the One who will help me cast my cares (1 Pet. 5:7), come by prayer and supplication with a heart of thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), and not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). 

It is a struggle sometimes to not worry or be anxious when your situation seems and feels a little, or a lot, hopeless. Like defeat is right there. Like the storm just won’t stop. However, be encouraged. Don’t let worry and anxiety overtake you, or struggle in it by yourself. Call on God. Invite Him in. Give Him your cares. Give Him what’s burdening you. Tell Him all about what’s going on. Call on your community. 

At the time a few months ago, when I came across the sermon and devotional, I was experiencing anxiety and worry. Not constant, but in waves especially when I remembered my situation and looked at my reality. But after making the declaration from the sermon and my sister’s words and prayer, it’s like something broke off me. I felt a release and a relief. GLORAAYYY! Today, although things still come up and situations still happen, my response isn’t the same as it used to be. And I thank God!

As I reflected on Philippians 4:6-7 while working on this blog post, the revelation came that the scripture does not say that whatever you end up praying for will come to pass. This is something that I didn’t realize I had been expecting in addition to the peace and basing my “lack” of anxiety or worry on getting what I want, which isn’t real surrender and dependency on God. But what the scripture does tell us is that the anxiety will be exchanged for the peace of God. And His peace will guard our hearts and minds regarding the matter no matter if our desire comes to pass or not, or if it requires us to wait to get it. 

God wants us to cast our cares on Him and be anxious for nothing. This means releasing whatever is causing us anxiety or worry to Him and receiving His peace for the cares.

If you are in a space where it feels like worry and anxiety have a hold on you, turn to Jehovah Shalom because the Lord is peace. Lay down your cares, your anxiety, and take hold of His peace. 

Make the declaration, in faith and with humility, that you will not worry. Invite Holy Spirit in to help you and trust His power to help.

Be blessed. 

Grace, Peace, & Love

Referenced Scripture 

Matthew 6:25-34

 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.