.....ifs

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7

There’s a moment of panic that’s hard to describe — your stomach drops, your brain spirals, and you suddenly imagine worst-case scenarios. That’s what happened to Tom, a mechanic doing some work at the Air Force Academy.

He was approached by a guard asking if their new security dog could sniff around his truck. Tom agreed — confident, of course, that he had nothing to hide. But, almost immediately, the dog latched onto a scent and jumped into the truck bed sniffing furiously. Tom got nervous. Did someone plant something in my truck? Am I about to be arrested? A few minutes later, the guard returned and said, “Sorry... our dog ate your lunch.”

All that anxiety… for nothing. It’s unsettling to realize how quickly our thoughts can spiral. One moment we’re fine, and the next we’re mentally preparing for disaster. We get a text that says “Can we talk?” and we brace ourselves for bad news. A friend is quieter than usual, and we think they’re upset with us. The car makes a funny noise and we imagine a thousand-dollar repair. We’re professionals at catastrophizing -- jumping from calm to crisis in seconds.

But Peter, someone who knew a thing or two about panic (remember the time he stepped out of the boat and sank in a storm?) gives us this comforting instruction: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” He doesn’t say, “Cast only the big stuff” or “Wait until you’re sure it’s serious.” He says, “All of it.” God invites us to hand every bit of it over to him. He doesn’t roll his eyes and say, “That’s not a big deal.” He just says, “Let me carry it. I care.”

So, the next time your thoughts start spiraling and your chest tightens over something that might go wrong, take a breath. Say a prayer. Remind yourself that God sees you and cares deeply about what you’re facing. Don’t let the “what ifs” win!

- alan smith

Father, thank you for caring about the things that weigh me down — even when they turn out to be smaller than I thought. Help me to give my worries to you and to trust that you’re in control. Calm my racing thoughts and replace my panic with your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.