I am reading the book “Consider the Lilies” by Jonny Ardavanis. I love that title. It isn’t saying “look” or “focus on” but consider the lilies. So, what about the lilies? Exactly. If God cares for them and their needs, wouldn’t he care even more for you and me? Don’t you think that as his sons and daughters, he would extend even greater care regarding our needs? Yes, of course, he would, and he has. So then where does our anxious heart come from and what do we do with it? What do we do with anxiety? Whatever the reason for our anxiety, are we releasing it to God when we become anxious over something?
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Peter is sharing what we are to do with our anxiety. Yes, this is easier said than done, but let’s look further. Oxford Languages lists “send out”,” diffuse” or “send forth” as synonyms for cast. CAST WHERE? On him. Without the “on him because he cares for us” portion of this verse, it wouldn’t matter where we placed our anxiety and certainly wouldn’t give us much hope.
Ardavanis gives a clear picture to help us with anxiety. He writes about the algae pools in Kings Canyon National Park. In describing a flowing stream with areas of slower moving water containing the stagnant pools he saw along the way. The algae that were formed in the directionless pools created a disconnect with the flowing stream. Water couldn’t get in or out of these murky nonpotable pools. Yet the flowing water was drinkable and crystal clear. He shares “In the same way, when we worry, our minds are like stagnant pools. We pretend that we are the terminus for our problems and pressures instead of viewing our worries and unknowns as a channel flowing to God himself.” I personally never thought of my anxiety as a disconnect or a stagnant pool, yet this visual made me see clearer.
Those of us who have battled anxiety most likely don’t consider any part of it as pretending. No one signs up for anxiety and might see it as the only way to function. The focal point for me in this was viewing the ability to release our worries as a channel to God himself. Opening the murky waters of my mind to be restored by the fresh clear water of the Living God. Little by little. Casting moment by moment as we can. I hope that this might help be a visual for you and could help you find some freedom from anxiety. Because he cares about you!
Tammy De Armas
EFCC Member