Designed for Greatness: A 10-Day Bible Plan for MenSample

Casting Your Cares

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on Him, because He cares about you. I PETER 5:6-7 CSB

In these verses from I Peter, the word casting isn't about trout fishing or how to tie and cast a fly. We'll leave that for guys who know how to do it. Rather, it’s about the mess we get into when our stubborn pride keeps us from asking for help.

Peter’s words about “casting” our cares on God come right after Peter’s instruction about humility. Isn’t it great that God would entrust these inspired words to Peter, the disciple who was so proud that he once announced to Jesus that he would never deny Him—even if everyone else did—but then proceeded to deny Jesus not once, but three times?

Peter wrote these words after he had received Jesus’ forgiveness. He’d clearly learned a lesson in humility and wanted to share that lesson with his readers.

We are often bound by the cares and worries of this world. We imagine we can fix everything by just trying harder, but it is never that simple. Sometimes, the harder we try, the more frustrated we become, and we end up throwing our hands in the air and giving up.

Peter tells us to cast our cares on God, the One who created us and knows every detail about us and about our lives. The reason we are often reluctant to give Him everything we are concerned or anxious about is because we pridefully figure we can roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves, which never turns out well.

Casting our cares on God is not a sign of weakness. Doing so reveals a humble spirit—a man who is willing to let go of pride and admit his need for God.

PRAYER:

Father, You know me and my prideful tendencies. Forgive me for that pride and teach me to cast all my cares on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.