“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
The word “casting” in our text is used of throwing a covering on something. An example would be a blanket thrown on a bed. In the same way, Peter says, “Cast your cares upon the Lord.” All our discontent, discouragement, despair, questioning, pain, suffering, and sorrow must be given to the Lord, and we must trust the One who truly cares for the sheep of His pasture. Our text is a call for faithful prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 2 Kings 19 is an excellent example of trust and humble dependence upon God. King Hezekiah received a letter from Sennacherib, King of Assyria, which said, “The other nation’s gods could not stop me, neither can Israel’s God.” Hezekiah was completely dependent upon God to save him and his people from the King of Assyria, and Hezekiah demonstrated complete dependence by bowing before the Lord in prayer. And the Lord said, “Because you have prayed to Me … I have heard.” God fought the battle for Hezekiah because he humbled himself in the sight of God and gave his burden to the Lord.
The Lord cares for His people. Jesus said in Matthew 6:30, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” The Apostle Paul wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And David wrote in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” And by knowing, believing, trusting, and meditating on these precious truths the Holy Spirit will produce in every believer a Christ-like attitude of humility, trust, and dependence upon our God and Father, which is demonstrated by our faithful submission under God’s mighty hand. Take time today and relieve the burden of your heart by “Casting all your care upon the Lord” remembering the precious truth that “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).