1 Peter 5:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

NIV: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

NASB: having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.

CSB: casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

NLT: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about 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.

This verse concludes the thought begun in verse 6. Christians must humble themselves under God's mighty hand, trusting Him to exalt us at exactly the right time. We must quit the work of seeking our own glory in order to accept the work of serving and submitting to others. Then, when the time is right, our God will use His mighty hand to exalt us.

These are words of great encouragement, and maybe conviction, for those struggling to submit to harsh human authorities. It speaks to those serving year after year with little recognition. It encourages those providing for others of limited power or value in society. Natural human fear tells us we are wasting our lives, we are on the wrong path, that our choice to serve in humility without obvious reward is evidence that we may be worthless, after all.

Peter writes that we should take that fear and cast it—throw it—onto our Father God. In fact, he tells us to take all of our anxieties, everything that worries us, and to give it to the God who cares so deeply for us. This is not a promise that God will fix everything which worries us. God is not obligated to follow whatever script we write for Him. It's a promise that the mighty God will receive our worries, and care about them. He will carry them for us. He is trustworthy to handle them in the way that is best.

Peter's words are a command. It is not God's will for His children to continue to live under those burdens. Believing that God is mighty and cares for us should result in our regularly handing over our worries to Him.

1 Peter 5:1–11 gives specific instructions to elders about how to lead the flock of God willingly, eagerly, and by their own example. All of us must live in humility toward each other and toward God, who opposes the proud. In humility, we cast our anxieties on the Father who cares for us. In alertness, we are to remain clear-minded, looking out for our enemy the devil who seeks to destroy us. We resist him by focusing on staying firm in our faith and trusting God to keep His promises.

Peter concludes his letter to the scattered Christians in Asia Minor with specific instructions. Primarily, these are targeted at those in the role of elder, about how to lead. He also provides counsel for all believers on living in humility toward each other and toward God. In humility, we wait and trust God to exalt us in His time. In humility, we cast our cares on Him. But we’re also called to remain alert, watching out for the devil and resisting him by focusing on staying firm in our faith. After this brief life of suffering, our God will bring our suffering to an end and make us strong forever.

Thus far, Peter has affirmed that Christians have been chosen by God and set aside for His purposes. We should not be surprised by suffering, and we should not respond to persecution by rebelling against our human authorities. Our suffering in both cases points the world to our hope in Christ and allows us to follow in Jesus’ steps. Peter here concludes his letter with instructions to the elders, teaching on humility, and a final warning to be sober-minded and alert.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.