Sleep has been difficult to come by lately. When I first lie down, I crash almost instantly and slumber through a few hours of solid rest. Then, nearly every night, I wake up to use the restroom, after which time I’m mostly up for the long haul. I’m sure some physiological issues contribute to this issue, but I also have trouble shutting off my brain as it races through things to do, people to visit, and problems to solve, none of which I can do anything about at 3:30 a.m.

What’s my problem? Doesn’t 1 Peter 5:7 tell me to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you?” And doesn’t Philippians 4:6-7 say, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God?” If I truly give my fears and anxieties and stressful situations to God, He promises that His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Jesus.

So how do I “cast my anxiety” on God? I read an article by John Piper that discusses the word “casting,” which was also used in Luke 19:35. In context, it was Palm Sunday and the disciples had been sent to get the donkey for Jesus to ride on. Then verse 35 says, “They brought it to Jesus, and casting their garments on the colt, they set Jesus on it.” So, here’s the idea: if you have a garment on and you want an animal to carry it for you, you “cast” the garment on the animal and you don’t carry it anymore.

God is willing to carry our anxieties the same way a donkey carries baggage. In fact, God wants to bear our burdens to demonstrate His power and to show His care for us and the things that have us worrying. So, the secret to casting my anxiety on God is to let it go, but also to trust that God cares for me. If I believe His promise that He cares, and I believe that He is God, my fears will fade away.