Trusting God with Everything

In a world increasingly dominated by materialism, personal ambition, and the pursuit of comfort, letting go can seem counterintuitive. We are taught to hold tightly to our possessions, relationships, and self-image. Yet, the Gospel of Jesus Christ presents a paradoxical truth: true freedom is found not in clinging to these things but in releasing them to God. This freedom of letting go, trusting God with every aspect of our lives, is encapsulated in 1 Peter 5:6-7, where the apostle Peter exhorts believers to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand and cast all their anxieties upon Him, knowing He cares for them. This scriptural truth calls us to examine our hearts, surrender our most profound attachments, and experience the liberating power of God’s sovereignty and grace.

The Call to Humility and Submission

Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 5:6-7 begins with a call to humility: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” This passage invites believers to adopt a posture of humility and submission, acknowledging God’s supreme authority and providence. As Peter describes it, humility is not merely an attitude but a deliberate action—placing oneself under God’s care and control.

Humility as a Prerequisite for God’s Exaltation

The connection between humility and exaltation is a recurring theme in the Bible. Jesus Himself taught this principle when He said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). The world often teaches the opposite: that self-promotion, assertiveness, and ambition are the keys to success. However, the Gospel presents a radical reversal of this logic, teaching that true exaltation comes not from lifting ourselves up but from humbling ourselves before God. This humility is demonstrated not only in our relationship with God but also in our interactions with others. As Peter writes in the passage, “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5).

In Biblical terms, humility involves recognizing our dependence on God and our inability to achieve anything of eternal value apart from His grace. This recognition leads to a willingness to submit to God’s will, even when it requires relinquishing our own desires and plans. In this posture of submission, we position ourselves to receive God’s grace and experience His exaltation in His perfect timing.

The Dangers of Pride

Pride is the antithesis of humility and is, therefore, one of the most dangerous spiritual conditions a believer can harbor. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride closes our eyes to our need for God, leading us to rely on our own strength, wisdom, and resources. God resists this very pride, as Peter reminds us, quoting from Proverbs 3:34, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Pride manifests in various ways, often disguised as virtues such as independence, self-reliance, or even a false sense of humility. For example, when we cling to our possessions, relationships, or reputation out of fear of losing them, we are essentially trusting these things rather than God. This misplaced trust is a form of pride, elevating our judgment and desires above God’s will. Consequently, this pride blocks the flow of God’s grace in our lives, preventing us from experiencing the fullness of His blessings.

The Act of Letting Go and Casting Our Cares on God

Having established the importance of humility, Peter exhorts believers to cast all their anxieties upon God. This act of casting our cares onto God practically expresses our trust in His sovereignty and goodness. It acknowledges that we are not in control and need God to carry our burdens.

What It Means to Cast Our Cares

The Greek word translated as “casting” in 1 Peter 5:7 is “ἐπιρίπτω” (epiriptō), which means to throw upon or place upon. This word conveys a sense of urgency and decisiveness. Peter is not suggesting that we gently lay our concerns at God’s feet but actively and energetically throw them upon Him. This imagery highlights the seriousness of our need to release our burdens and the confidence we can have in God’s willingness and ability to handle them.

The burdens we cast upon God can be as varied as our lives. They include our fears, anxieties, and concerns about the future, relationships, finances, health, and personal ambitions. Essentially, anything that weighs heavily on our hearts and minds can be cast upon God. This is not to say that we should be indifferent or irresponsible about these matters, but rather entrust them to God’s care, confident that He knows what is best for us and will act according to His perfect will.

The Freedom Found in Letting Go

The freedom from letting go and casting our cares upon God is a profound and liberating experience. When we release our burdens to God, we are freed from the anxiety and stress that often accompany our efforts to control our circumstances. As Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:31-32). Trusting God with our needs and concerns allows us to live in peace that surpasses all understanding, as described in Philippians 4:6-7.

Moreover, letting go lets us focus our attention and energy on what truly matters: our relationship with God and our service to others. When we are no longer preoccupied with our own concerns, we are free to pursue God’s will for our lives and to love and serve others as He has called us to do. This is the essence of true freedom—freedom from the bondage of self-centeredness and the freedom to live in the fullness of God’s love and grace.

The Obstacles to Letting Go

While the freedom of letting go is a beautiful promise, it is not always easy to achieve. Several obstacles can hinder our ability to fully surrender our cares to God, and these obstacles must be recognized and addressed if we are to experience the freedom that God desires for us.

Attachment to Worldly Possessions

One of the most significant obstacles to letting go is our attachment to worldly possessions. Jesus addressed this issue directly when He warned, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Our material or intangible possessions often hold a powerful grip on our hearts. We may fear losing them because they represent security, status, or identity. However, this attachment can become a form of idolatry if it takes precedence over our relationship with God. When we cling to our possessions, we essentially say we trust them more than God to provide for us. This misplaced trust hinders our spiritual growth and robs us of the freedom that comes from relying on God alone.

Fear of the Unknown

Another obstacle to letting go is the fear of the unknown. We may be reluctant to surrender our plans, relationships, or possessions to God because we fear the future. This fear is rooted in a lack of trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. We may intellectually believe that God is in control and has good plans for us, but our actions often reveal a different reality—that we are still holding on to control out of fear.

The antidote to this fear is faith. Faith is not a blind leap into the unknown but a confident trust in God’s character and promises. As the writer of Hebrews defines it, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith enables us to let go of our fears and to trust that God will work all things together for our good, as promised in Romans 8:28.

The Illusion of Control

A third obstacle to letting go is the illusion of control. We may believe that we can manage our own lives and do not need to rely on God. Our culture often reinforces this belief, which glorifies self-sufficiency and autonomy. However, the Bible teaches that our perceived control is an illusion. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Ultimately, God is the one who directs our paths, and any control we think we have is temporary and limited.

Recognizing the illusion of control is the first step toward surrendering it to God. When we acknowledge our limitations and need for God’s guidance, we can let go of our need to control every aspect of our lives. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom, as it reflects a recognition of God’s infinite wisdom and power.

The Power of God’s Care is a Reason to Let Go

The motivation for letting go and casting our cares upon God is found in the simple yet profound truth that “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). This assurance of God’s care is the foundation of our trust in Him and the reason we can confidently release our burdens into His hands.

God’s Personal and Intimate Care

God’s care for us is not distant or impersonal but deeply personal and intimate. The psalmist David expresses this beautifully in Psalm 139:1-4, where he writes, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” God’s knowledge of us is complete, and His care for us is rooted in this intimate understanding of our needs, desires, and struggles.

This personal care is further demonstrated in Jesus’ teachings about God’s provision. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus points to the birds of the air, saying, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” If God cares for the birds of the air, how much more will He care for us, His children? This assurance of God’s care gives us the confidence to let go of our worries and trust Him to provide for our every need.

God’s Sovereign Care

In addition to His personal care, God’s care is also sovereign. He is not only aware of our needs, but He is also fully capable of meeting them. The apostle Paul emphasizes this in Philippians 4:19, where he writes, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God’s resources are unlimited, and His sovereignty ensures that nothing is beyond His control. This means that when we cast our cares upon Him, we can be confident that He will act in accordance with His perfect will and wisdom.

God’s sovereign care also extends to the timing of His actions. Peter writes that we are to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). God’s timing is always perfect, even if it does not align with our own expectations. Trusting in His timing requires patience and faith, but it also brings peace, knowing that God’s plans for us are good and He will act at the right time.

Practical Steps to Letting Go and Trusting God

While the concept of letting go and trusting God is simple in theory, it can be challenging to put into practice. However, several practical steps can help us develop the habit of surrendering our cares to God and experiencing the freedom that comes from trusting in His care.

Prayer: The Practice of Casting Our Cares

Prayer is the primary means by which we cast our cares upon God. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul exhorts believers, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for releasing our burdens and inviting God’s peace into our lives.

Through prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on God and invite Him to take control of our circumstances. This act of surrender is both an expression of humility and an act of faith. As we consistently bring our concerns to God in prayer, we develop a deeper trust in His care and a greater willingness to let go of our need to control.

Meditation on Scripture: Renewing Our Minds

Meditating on God’s Word is another essential practice for developing trust in God and letting go of our anxieties. The Bible is filled with promises of God’s care, provision, and faithfulness, which serve as a foundation for our trust in Him. Regularly reading and meditating on Scripture renews our minds and aligns our thinking with God’s truth.

One practical way to meditate on Scripture is to memorize key verses that remind us of God’s care and sovereignty. For example, verses like Psalm 55:22 (“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved”) and Isaiah 41:10 (“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”) can serve as powerful reminders of God’s presence and provision in our lives.

Community: Encouragement and Accountability

Finally, being part of a community of believers is crucial for developing the habit of letting go and trusting God. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation, and having the support and encouragement of others can help us stay focused on God’s promises. In times of doubt or struggle, fellow believers can remind us of God’s faithfulness and encourage us to trust Him.

Moreover, the community provides accountability. When we share our struggles with others, we invite them to pray for us and hold us accountable in our faith journey. This mutual support strengthens our resolve to let go of our anxieties and to trust God in every aspect of our lives.

Conclusion

The freedom of letting go and trusting God with everything is a profound and transformative experience. It requires humility, a willingness to surrender our attachments, and a deep trust in God’s care and sovereignty. While the obstacles to letting go are natural, the rewards are far greater. As we cast our cares upon God, we are freed from the burdens of anxiety and fear and invited to experience the peace and joy that come from living in the fullness of God’s love and grace. Ultimately, the freedom of letting go is not just about releasing our burdens but about embracing the life that God has called us to live—a life of trust, dependence, and surrender to His perfect will.