God Cares for You (1 Pet 5:6-7)
The word “care” (1 Pet 5:7a) has the idea of being divided and distracted. It describes the disunity in our hearts that our soul is troubled that it distracts us. We have many cares in our lives, for there is no such thing as a care-free life on earth. Examples of some types of cares are: persecutions, the anxiety of being attacked by the devil, the struggle against sin and worldliness, etc. 1 Peter 5:6-7 teaches us how to deal with the cares in our lives.
We must first humble ourselves before God. Many a times the cares we have are a result of our refusal to submit to God. Our lack of submission may be due to our pride and arrogance. To humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God is to know who God is. When we humble ourselves before God, we can then cast all our cares to Him. “Casting” (1 Pet 5:7) means to throw upon the Lord and leave it there, knowing that He is in control. Note that the casting of our cares does not mean we also cast away our responsibilities and duties. We still have to fulfil our responsibilities and duties, while we cast our worries and anxieties to the Lord and leaving them to Him.
The word “careth” (1 Pet 5:7) has the idea of interest, and it describes an action of showing concern to somebody. God cares for us, and will continue to care for us. He watches over. Not only does God have a general care, but He also has a special care for His children. We are His children and He has a personal relationship with us. We can experience, and have experienced, His care. This must be an encouragement to us to continue to cast our cares upon Him, for God’s care for us is inexhaustible. We note however that God may care for us in a way that is not in accordance to our expectations. God cares for us in His way, in His time. We must trust in the Lord’s timing because He knows best. The word “exalt” (1 Pet 5:6) means to lift up. In His perfect timing, the Lord will lift us up. We must pray for endurance, grace and strength while we wait for our caring God to deliver and “exalt” us. |