How to Receive God's Promotion

When life's troubles weigh us down, God offers a powerful solution that many of us overlook. Casting our cares isn't optional—it's God's directive for how we humble ourselves and position ourselves for His blessings.

The struggles, worries, and anxiety you feel aren't unique to you. You're not alone, and God isn't mad at you. Even great leaders throughout history have acknowledged the destructive power of worry.

What Does "Casting Your Care" Really Mean?

Our theme scripture, 1 Peter 5:6-7, instructs us: "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 Greek word "merrimana," translated as "care," actually means being drawn by worried distractions and pulled in different directions. It's that sinking, heavy, troubled feeling you get when something distressing happens. Care distracts you and pulls you apart internally, mentally, and emotionally.

Why Does Worry Always Show Up at the Worst Times?

Have you noticed that care seems to arrive the moment you try to focus on moving forward, being positive, helping others, or pursuing God's truth? That's because the very nature of care is to break your focus.

No matter how noble your care or how saintly its focus, worry will pull you apart from the inside out, making you ineffective for the very thing you care about. As Irma Bombeck wisely said, "Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but never gets you anywhere."

The Deception of Care as Identity

Many good people have been deceived into believing their true identity and self-worth are tied to their performance of caring, worrying, and serving. Without realizing it, they exalt their sacrifice above Jesus' work on the cross.

This trap makes everything about your performance rather than Jesus' finished work. It's not humility or trust—it's deception and pride. As George Bernard Shaw observed, "People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."

What Does Jesus Say About Worry?

In Philippians 4:6-7, we're instructed: "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Care and anxiety occupy the place in your heart that belongs to peace, prayer, and power. You can't focus on truth, activate love, or work your faith when you're disobedient and caught in care.

The Mary and Martha Example: Peace vs. Pressure

In Luke 10:38-42, we see a perfect illustration of this principle. Martha was "overly occupied and too busy, distracted with much serving," while Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching.

When Martha complained, Jesus responded: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, that which is to her advantage, which will not be taken away from her."

Mary had peace. Martha had pressure. Martha's identity was tied up in her care, making it difficult for her to let go.

The Dangerous Effects of Pressure Talk

When you're burdened with worry you're not anointed to carry, it produces great pressure. Even though you love people, the pressure causes you to: 

• Explode and react to circumstances
• Have no margin or patience
• Adopt a "why me?" mindset
• Blame others and take offense 

• Find it difficult to see the good
• Refuse solutions
• Feel justified in being a moral elitist
• Walk blind to blessings and become unthankful
• Push with your words through "pressure talk" 

The Physical Toll of Carrying Care

Proverbs 3:5,8 tells us that trusting in the Lord "shall be health to your nerves and sinews and marrow and moistening to your bones."

Dr. Charles Mayo, founder of the Mayo Clinic, said: "Worry affects the circulation and the whole nervous system. I've never known a man who died from overwork, but I've known many who have died from doubt."

Chronic stress, worry, and anxiety can lead to numerous physical symptoms:

• High blood pressure
• Heart problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Headaches
• Depression and anxiety
• Skin conditions
• Asthma
• Arthritis 

Jesus' Prescription for Worry

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus gives a clear directive: "Stop being worried or anxious about your life."

God understands that our cares can be important to us—even precious. We care when loved ones are hurt, when friends die unexpectedly, when betrayal cuts deep. But there's no power accessed until we roll that care over onto Jesus. Our care is powerless compared to His loving, tender, powerful care.

A Personal Story of Casting Care

When my wife Pam severely injured her back, doctors told her she would never walk again. My worry and care were crushing me, but they weren't helping her at all. We needed God's healing, not my useless care.

In the middle of the night, I got out of bed and walked the floor speaking God's eternal word: "God, I cast all this care over unto you because you care for Pam. By Jesus' stripes, I call her healed."

Over the next few months, we continually cast our care on God. He led us faithfully and miraculously. Within four months, Pam was horseback riding, and a month later, she was water skiing. God had healed her completely.

Breaking Out of the Box of Limitation

Consider the story of Gunder Birkeland, who contracted polio at age two and was confined to a wooden box. At seven years old, he envisioned himself standing without the box. He began rocking back and forth until he knocked the box over.

Though his parents kept putting him back in the box, he kept breaking out. Eventually, he began to crawl and then walk. He outlived every member of his family and became one of the ten wealthiest people in Seattle, spending his life telling others they didn't have to stay in their boxes either.

How to Practically Apply This Truth

To deal with care, worry, and fear, you must take action. Passively nodding in agreement won't do anything. Here's how to start:

• Know God's will - You act on what you believe, so know that God wants you free from care.

• Trust in God - God has good plans for you, but they remain dormant until you trust Him. Be honest about carrying your own care and call it what it is—pride. 

• Flip care over to trigger faith focus - When your mind is fixed on faith assignments, you don't have the capacity to worry. Let every worry remind you to focus on faith instead.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to practice casting your cares daily. Each time you feel anxiety rising, stop and deliberately hand that concern over to God. Say it out loud: "Lord, I give you this worry about _____ because you care for me and for this situation far better than I can."

Ask yourself these questions:

• What specific cares am I holding onto that I need to release to God?
• How has carrying my own cares affected my physical health, relationships, and spiritual life?
• What would my life look like if I truly lived carefree, with my trust fully in God?
• How might I be more effective in helping others if I wasn't weighed down by my own worries

Remember, casting your care isn't about being careless—it's about being empowered to be carefree. God's promotion for you is rest and reward, a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. It's living with joy that can't be taken away by circumstances.

- Dr. Stephen Marshall