Cast (1 Peter 5:7): Meaning, Reflection and Prayer

What does “Cast” mean in 1 Peter 5:7?

The Greek word for casting means to throw something onto another. The verse ends with a reason: He careth for you, meaning that you matter to Him.

Going deeper

Peter writes to believers who were facing real trouble, and he does not tell them to ignore their concerns. He tells them to throw all of it onto God. The picture is of taking a heavy pack from your back and putting it on the shoulders of someone stronger. The reason given is not a technique but a relationship. God cares for you. You are not a burden to Him, and your worries are not too small or too large for Him.

Casting is not a one-time act. We often pick our worries up again, and we have to hand them over again. That is all right. Each time is an act of trust. Try naming your specific worry out loud to God, and then say, I give this to You. Then do the next practical thing you can, and leave the outcome with Him. You were never meant to carry everything alone. He is strong enough, and He is glad to carry it.