He Cares - 1 Peter 5:6-7

Seek God Together

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether Today we will read 1 Peter 5:6-7. These verses say, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” Often overlooked is the first part of the passage. Verse 6 contextualizes our posture as we cast our anxieties on God. It tells us how to treat God and others. First, to humble ourselves under God’s hand. How? Well in large part in how we treat others as the first part of chapter 5 tells us - not in resistance to those who are our elders. There’s a deference we should pay to those who are older, more mature, and in positions of leadership. And this should inform how we treat those who are younger, less mature, or in a lower level of leadership. We should be humble, and deferential to both groups and in this way show humility to God. This is the context in which we are invited to cast our cares on God. He cares about you. God cares about you - dear worshipper. He cares about you. Do you need to hear it again? The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, cares…for you. You! It’s an interesting play on words in English. It says “Cast our cares on Him for He cares.” It’s as though what we give God is the same thing He gives us. But it’s not exactly the same in the greek. The care we give God is our anxiety. It’s the fear we have mainly for our own self-interest. The pressure, the existential angst. It is that messiness in our soul that we are invited to give. And what does He give in return? His care. But not anxiety. His deference. His humility. His willingness to set aside His rights and High Holy desires in order to accommodate you and me small as we are. The kind of care that a shepherd gives his flock. A desire for our good. We have a desire for our good without the wisdom to inform it or the power to accomplish it. Whereas He desires our good but has perfect wisdom to understand all the variables and all the capacity to bring it about. This God, in all His goodness and perfection, cares for you! God I can hardly believe it’s true. That You, mighty and good as You are, actually care for me. Here then are my anxieties.