1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Explanation and Commentary of 1 Peter 5:7
Amidst a list of instructions to the church, Peter warns his readers to humble themselves, be sober-minded, and resist the devil. In the same list, he commands them to cast their anxiety on God. It is clear from his letter that the church was being tested by persecution and various trials. The Christians were experiencing anxiety. Peter was no stranger to anxiety, having followed Jesus in his earthly ministry and through his death and resurrection, and having been imprisoned and flogged multiple times for his own preaching.
And the reason is based on the fact that God cares for us. We don’t have an impersonal God who sees us as a number and who dispassionately governs the universe from a great distance. We have a God who knows us perfectly (1 Cor 8:3). He created us and knows every hair of our head. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground and he doesn’t know (Mt 10:29). God loves his children and is perfectly attentive. He waits to answer when we pray, to forgive when we repent, to comfort when we are in need. He will surely carry our burdens if only we will ask. Only, don’t cast your anxiety on him only to renege on the deal. Don’t take back your anxieties once you have entrusted them to God.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of 1 Peter 5:7
#1 “Cast…”
By prayer, we do this. Perhaps it is also helpful to speak to a Christian brother or sister who knows the Word and can speak the truth, and then pray for you. Confess your anxieties, and profess your faith that God is able to carry them. Picture yourself handing the whole load of anxiety to your Father. He is strong and can carry it with ease.
#2 “…all your anxiety on him…”
Again, God is able to carry your burdens because he knows all. He has a plan to prosper you in the situation. He knows what he will do. He knows what you will do. He already knows our fears and failures. He will not only bear your anxiety, but he will send his Holy Spirit to strengthen you and bring you peace.
#3 “…because he cares for you.”
His work on your behalf is rooted and grounded in his great love for you. One effective way to let go of anxiety is to meditate on what Scripture has revealed concerning God’s love for us. When our minds grasp how great is the love of God for his children, it has a way of bringing us into peace.
Bible Study on 1 Peter 5:7
Expert Overview of 1 Peter
Biblical Translations of 1 Peter 5:7
NIV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
NLT
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
ESV
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
NKJV
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.