1 Peter 5:7-8

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

To face the numerous situations, relationships, and thoughts that stress us out in our lives, God asks us to “cast” them on Him. Over a lifetime, it’s not just 10, 100, or even 1000 things that make us anxious, but countless occurrences from family and society to work and finances.

What does it mean to “cast all your anxiety on Him”? Does this imply that we should relinquish all responsibility and leave everything to God? Does the Bible advocate for removing ourselves from the world entirely, neglecting family, work, and responsibilities, and relying solely on personal wisdom? No, the Lord does not want us to abandon our relationships or our worldly duties, but He also does not want us to act solely on our own.

We must have faith that God will guide us on the right path to overcome our anxieties. Only with His help can we navigate this path and conquer our worries. If we rely solely on ourselves, we will fail, regardless of our skills or strength. God allows challenges in our lives to strengthen our faith. As we face hardships, our faith grows. By listening to God’s voice, trusting His Truth, and obeying Him, we can overcome the challenges we face and stay on the path to our salvation.

“Casting all your anxieties on Him” involves three steps. First, we must earnestly seek God’s guidance when facing anxiety. Second, we must live and act according to His guidance. Third, we must trust and believe that He will care for us when we obey Him. We do this by studying His Word, then praying for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide our conscience, and then obeying God’s commandments. Through dedicated prayer and practice, we receive inspiration from the Holy Spirit, allowing us to discern God’s direction.

Entrusting God completely means surrendering all our anxieties to Him, not just the easy ones. Following God’s guidance may lead us to face challenges that put our family, job, or safety at risk. In these moments, we must seek His direction and act according to His will, trusting that He will take care of us when we obey. Does this mean neglecting our family, jobs, or safety? No. We care for them as God directs us. We study, work, and address problems by seeking and following God’s commandments, believing this will bring His blessings and lead to the best outcome for our ultimate salvation.

If God says keep this or throw it away, think in this or that way, follow this path or not, take or leave, fear or take courage, we must do exactly as God directs in each case, one by one, guided by our conscience directed by God’s wisdom. God will take responsibility for us. This is when the believer becomes impervious to all worldly threats. When calamity comes our way, we must cast “all our anxieties on Him” and trust in God’s power to ensure our success and eternal salvation.

Please click for Korean sermon https://soundcloud.com/yhpaik/1981-7-29-mixdown-12