1 Peter 5:7

Everyone feels anxious from time to time.

That is quite natural.

But some people (a lot actually) experience anxiety at another level, to the point where it can become debilitating and cause physical symptoms.

Anxiety is the subject of much study and research and thankfully there is quite a lot that can be done to deal with anxiety, much of which is actually quite helpful.

But the problem is that quite often people with anxiety struggle (because they are so anxious) to do what anxious people need to do deal with anxiety, which is usually why medication is introduced, to help you to be able to do what is needed.

• Are you struggling with anxiety?
• Do you need help?
• Have you tried some things, but they don’t seem to work?

It is my hope and prayer that this morning you will grasp how God has promised to help you with anxiety … and that in grasping that (at the very least) a process will begin that will bring you growing freedom from anxiety.

Pray

Our popular bible verse this morning is 1 Peter 5: 7.

Peter was writing to people who had every reason to be anxious. They were facing persecution for their faith in Christ.

And Peter says something which upfront may sound a bit like a Facebook meme that sounds great but doesn’t help.

What Peter write here, is what God had personally taught him and he had put into practice and experienced (even if in an up and down manner).

And it is the solution to anxiety

5: 7

The solution is to take all your anxiety:

• Big or small
• About real issues or imagined issues
• Under control or out of control

And throw it all onto God.

That is, make it God’s problem to deal with.

And:

• “Because he cares for you”.
• And he has the all the power and wisdom to actually care for you…

He will make it his problem to deal with. What a relief. You will no longer need to be anxious. He’s got this. He’s got you.

(Pretend end of sermon)

But you know as well as I do that this solution is much easier said than done, right?

So, let’s look at…

The secret to this solution to anxiety

Why is it so much easier said than done?

Because we lack humility.

Let me show you what I mean.

• The build up to vs 7, is about humility (look at vs 5)
• Look at vs 6 it is basically another way of saying vs 7 and it is all about humility

The secret to vs 7 is humility of vs 6.

The kind of humility that is spoken of in Proverbs 3: 5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (another very popular bible verse).

Show that in 1 Peter 5: 6 + 7.

Without humility (if you are leaning on your own understanding for the troubles and anxiety in your life) you won’t easily commit wholeheartedly to vs 7. And then of course you will not receive the benefits of vs 7, which amongst other things is the reduction of anxiety.

If you aren’t a Christian yet, this privilege of making your problems and anxiety God’s to deal with is not yet your privilege.

But if you humble yourself and accept what God says about your sin problem and receive the solution of the forgiveness of your sin in Christ … it will become yours.

But even for Christians who have this privilege, it is easier said than done.

Why?

Because as Christians we often lack the humility to fully trust in the Lord with all our hearts that God does actually care for us…

• Not only for our salvation through what Jesus did on the cross in the past
• Not only when we go to heaven in the future…

But also in between, right now, in all areas of life, even the areas that cause us anxiety.

We think we have legitimate reasons (as we lean on our own understanding) to doubt that he will work it out for our good.

Usually because of past experiences where God didn’t work out things in a way we wanted, in a way that we believed was good for us.

But if we humble ourselves to trust in him, what he has said and done … and if we don’t rely on your understanding about past experiences with God if they are contrary to what God is saying … and we acknowledge that he is right, and we are wrong.

If we take him at his word.

• Then we will be able to fully cast all our anxiety on him
• Our trust in him will grow
• Our anxiety will melt away as we have growing confidence to leave our issues with him and not take them away from him onto ourselves again.

And he will prove to you… is

How successful this solution

As we see in 5: 5c (favour – grace) / 6 / 10

Peter could testify to that … as can many Christians through the ages, even here today.

And if we trust in the Lord and don’t lean on our understanding, our eyes will open to see how much God has done that in our lives.

How often have you been really anxious about something only to look back later and see that you needn’t have been so anxious?

God sorted it out, and even if not in the way we wanted, he used that to grow you as a person and grow your relationship with him.

So how does this actually work in practice as a Christian?

When you feel anxious about anything:

• Take it to the Lord in prayer. “Lord I am giving this problem to you to deal with in a way that is good for me as you have promised. Please help me so trust in you to do that so that my anxiety starts melting away. Work supernaturally in me by your Holy Spirit to see this happen”
• Believe that he has got it and you
• Then preach to yourself whenever you start doubting, that you don’t have to worry … he cares for you and has got this … he has got you.
• Memorise verses like 1 Peter 5: 7 and Proverbs 3: 5 and use them to battle against pride and for humility and the blessing it brings.
• Get people around you that you give permission to encourage and challenge you on this.
• Remain realistic in how this is going to work. It will be an ongoing battle.
• And then don’t continue to obsess about the problems and the anxiety, obsess about Jesus, his love and care for you in al things. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of his glory and grace.” Luke 10: 38 – 42

Pray

Questions:

1. How do you deal with anxiety?
2. What does Peter say is God’s solution to dealing with anxiety? (1 Peter 5: 7)
3. What is the secret to that solution becoming a reality? (Context)
4. How would you put what Peter says into practice in your life?