Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

I don’t know if you have ever been fly-fishing, or maybe you have seen it on TV. When you go fly fishing, you cast your bait way down the river and let it float. That way, the fish does not see you and will hopefully attack the bait. I have that vision when we cast our anxiety on God. Do you give Him your anxieties and let them float away, realizing He is in control, or do you keep the bait close so you can pick up the anxiety whenever you want? If a fly fisherman keeps his bait close, he will scare away the fish. If he allows the bait to float downstream, he is more likely to catch a fish.

When we keep our anxieties close, we are unable to look downstream. We focus on the anxiety and take our eyes off of God. When we give our anxieties to God and leave them there, He does the work, and we are better able to rest. I must confess I am good at giving God my burdens and worries, but I quickly take them back. Why wait on God – maybe I can figure this out myself? Do I really trust God to take my worries and take care of them? When I look closely at the above verse I often focus on the first part, cast all your anxiety on Him. The second part is almost as important if not more so. Because my God cares for me, He wants to carry my burdens and He wants me to bring them to Him. He cares about all my burdens, not just some of them. He loves me and wants me to share my worries and concerns. God certainly knows what is best for me and only wants the best.

So, I ask you Where do you cast? Once you cast your anxiety do you leave it with God or do you take it back? God cares for you and cares about absolutely everything you care about. He made you and He loves you. Give your loving Father all your anxiety and leave it there. May you rest in His perfect peace.