All Your Anxiety

Our Sunday morning Bible discussion group has been working through 1 Peter for several weeks, and so, quite naturally, my thoughts turned to that epistle as I meditated on the subject of prayer this weekend.

Initially, I was surprised, and a bit disappointed, that I couldn’t think of any strong emphasis on prayer in the epistle. I then did a detailed search only to find that the words “pray” and “prayer” each occur only once in the letter, and then not as strong directives but merely in passing comments.

But this morning, in my “regularly scheduled” reading time, I happened to be in 1 Peter and that reading has changed my opinion on the importance Peter places upon prayer. He amazed me with his relational understanding of prayer, without using the “P” word, as he writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

How many of us have a friend who has said that we can back up the truck and dump all of our emotional and spiritual baggage on him – at any time we want? That is what God has said to us! And unlike our friends, God is able to actually do something about fixing the causes of those concerns.

The spectrum of anxiety runs from minor irritations to worries that threaten to break us physically. God says to bring them all to Him. He cares.

So, don’t stagger around this week under a load that God is more than happy to handle for you. Pray.