I sat in my little red jacket, hood pulled over my pixie cut, dangling my legs from the pier. Grandpa sat beside me, our fishing poles bobbing over the lapping water. He had dubbed me his fishing buddy, though I rarely actually caught any fish. I was more focused on casting—swinging that hook and line as far over the St. Joe River as my five-year-old arms could muster. Each cast an opportunity to send that line a bit farther. The challenge held far more excitement than waiting for some poky old fish to nibble.

My five-year-old self possessed no concept of anxiety—especially about viruses, pandemics, or unemployment statistics. Just me with Grandpa on the water, casting my hook as far away as possible.

The memory brings to mind 1 Peter 5:7. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I love that Peter, a former fisherman, uses the word “cast.” He knew what it meant to lug a net overboard, to cast off something. He also knew fear. He lived in frightening times too. When Jesus called him out of the boat onto the water (Matthew 14:29). When he denied Jesus (Luke 22). When he and his friends hid from the Jewish leaders (John 20:19).

Peter knew that casting our fears wouldn’t be easy, which is why he reminds us what to focus on. Throw your fears on the Father.

He doesn’t tell us to merely put our worries out of our minds or to keep ourselves well distracted. He doesn’t say, “ignore your fears;” he tells us to heave them. To give them to a God who cares and is powerful enough to bear them for us.

This uncertain season is an opportunity to cast our fears farther. Let’s gather by the river, with our nets and lines, and get ready to fling.

What fears do you need to cast onto your Heavenly Father? Will you give them to Him now?

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