Casting Your Care: Give Up to Go Up

In a world filled with stress and anxiety, God offers us a powerful solution. The enemy wants us fixated on our problems, obsessing over crises and worries. But God has already built answers, blessings, and surprises into our challenging moments—treasures waiting to be activated.

The Epidemic of Care and Worry

Recent studies show alarming statistics: 60% of adults experience unprecedented stress levels—that's over 53 million Americans and 20 million Canadians. Among teenagers, about 30% of girls and 20% of boys suffer from anxiety disorders. This is an epidemic of care that can't be humanly managed.

Dr. Don Colbert notes that the number one killer in North America isn't car accidents or disease—it's stress, worry, and anxiety. The symptoms range from headaches and elevated blood pressure to serious conditions like heart disease, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders.

What Does the Bible Say About Casting Our Care?

First Peter 5:6-7 provides the solution: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due season, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you."

This isn't about being careless but rather becoming carefree. Being careless implies a bad attitude void of empathy or love. Being carefree is the outcome of intentionally trusting what's precious to our great God.

Understanding the True Meaning of "Care"

The word "care" in 1 Peter 5:7 comes from the Greek word "merrimana," which means "through the idea and force of distraction, you are drawn in different directions." It's related to being thoughtfully pulled and torn apart by worry—literally being ripped apart from the inside out.

God's plan is not for us to be torn apart by worry. Contrary to popular belief, worry is not responsibility. Many of us mistakenly think that being burdened and sad is godly, that worrying about family and finances is "doing the right thing." This is sincerely wrong thinking.

How Do I Cast My Care on God?

Casting your care is truly an act of humility. Letting go of your care and trusting God demonstrates true humility. Think of it like putting money in a trustworthy bank—you defer the care of it without devaluing it.

The question is: Do you trust God? We may say we love Him, but do we trust Him enough to release our worries to Him?

First Peter 5:5-7 explains the process:

• "Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 
• "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due season."
• "Casting all your care on him, for he cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

The Lid of Care vs. God's Hand of Blessing

Imagine your care as a lid covering God's gift for you. When you're under the lid of care, you can't simultaneously be under God's hand. His hand of blessing, promotion, and overcoming is always more than you could ask for.

The key principle: You must give up to go up.

Humility isn't about circumstances humiliating you or submitting to abuse. It's trusting God and His power to lift you and gift you. It's allowing God to take care of your cares.

What Happens When I Don't Cast My Care?

When we insist on holding onto our care, it's an act of distrust toward God that values our ability above His power. This short-circuits the true anointing power in our lives.

God wants to anoint you with His power to love, but you'll never have the right to carry your care. You're empowered to pray, but not to be careful. You're called to be compassionate and kind, but not to be full of care.

Biblical Examples of Casting Care

• David refused to worry about Goliath while King Saul and the entire Israeli army were paralyzed by fear. David cast his care on the Lord, came under God's hand, and received the victory.

• Joseph didn't let care overtake his mind despite being hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely accused. By refusing the lid of care, God promoted Joseph from prison to palace, enabling him to save many lives during a worldwide famine.

What Are the Benefits of Casting My Care?

There's a threefold gift in First Peter 5:6-7:

• Casting your care moves you out from under the crushing weight. God will never anoint you to carry that weight.

• Casting your care moves what's important into God's hands to do the impossible. Your loved ones are better off in God's capable, miraculous hands than in your stressed-out, overwhelmed human hands.

• Casting your care is an act of humility, giving God the right to exalt you. This is God's wonderful will for your life—not just promotion, but being lifted up so you can be a blessing to others.

Jesus offers us rest: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...for my yoke is easy to bear and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). Carefree living is anointed, powerful living with an easy yoke and light burden.

Life Application

Surrendering your cares to God isn't a one-time event but a lifestyle that requires training. Here are some practical steps to take this week:

• Identify your main sources of care and worry. Write them down. 

• For each worry, consciously pray: "Lord, I surrender this care to you. I trust you with this situation/person/concern." 

• When you feel anxiety returning, remind yourself: "I've given this to God. His hands are more capable than mine." 

• Replace worry time with scripture meditation. Focus especially on promises like Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:25-34, and 1 Peter 5:6-7.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What areas of my life am I still trying to control instead of trusting God?
• How has worry affected my physical, emotional, and spiritual health?
• What would my life look like if I truly lived carefree rather than careful? 

• Who around me needs to see an example of someone who trusts God with their cares? 

Remember, letting go of your cares doesn't diminish the value of what you care about—it places those concerns in the most capable hands possible. Give up to go up. Cast your care and watch God work in ways you never imagined possible.

~Dr. Stephen Marshall