8 Tangible Ways to Cast Your Cares on Jesus

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Has anyone ever offered you comfort with a reminder to “cast your cares?” After you agreed to follow such wise counsel, what did you do? 

You know Jesus cares for you and He wants to take your burden. But do you know how to cast your cares upon Jesus?

Candid Confession:  As I struggled with anxiety for years, 1 Peter 5:7 was a nauseating, eyes rolling to the back of my head, fingernails on the chalkboard verse. 

1 Peter 5:7 is a pillar verse for all who worry, but the scripture’s practical application eluded me for years. How does one throw worries, anyway? I’m not strong enough to throw anything up to the Lord in Heaven. It’s not like I can pick up my thoughts like the kitchen trash and toss it into Jesus’ dumpster.

Is the command to cast your cares obscure for you too? As I share my search for knowledge, I hope to equip you with a blueprint for peace through the One who cares for you.

Is the command to cast your cares a bit obscure to you? Find 8 tangible ways to cast your cares on Jesus on Candidly Christian. Click To Tweet

What Does it Mean to Cast Your Cares on Jesus?

As a student of God’s word, I began diligent research, determined to find step-by-step instructions for how to give my worries to Jesus.

First, I listened to sermons and read books by the world’s most renowned pastors and authors. Every resource offered abstract directives to cast your cares by trusting God.

So I turned to Scripture as my quest for the holy grail of peace continued. After analyzing a catalog of “fear not” scriptures, I still had no concrete steps for how to cast my cares. 

Next, I did a word study on the word “cast” for insight into the meaning of the original Greek. But the Greek meaning of the word “cast” in 1 Peter 5:7 simply means to throw upon, throw away, or cast upon. As a last resort, I scanned different versions of 1 Peter 5:7, but they all use the word “cast”, “give”, or “throw”. 

My futile investigation ended, mystery unsolved. 

How do I throw something I can’t touch to Someone I can’t see? 

Related Post: 4 Steps to Trust God When You’re Anxious

How to Cast Your Cares on Jesus

When He knew I was ready, Jesus revealed what it means to cast your cares on Him during a women’s retreat. At the end of an intense weekend, the presenter told the women to write our heaviest burden on a sticky note. We used thumb-tacks to “nail” our burdens to a wooden cross hanging on the wall. On our way back to our seats, she gave us each a railroad tie similar to the nails used for Roman crucifixions in Jesus’ day.

I shuffled my tear-stained Post-it note to the front of the room and nailed panic attacks to the cross that day. 

Since then, Jesus has shown me many other ways to give my cares to Him. 

8 Tangible Ways to Cast Your Cares on Jesus

1.) Pray to Cast Your Cares on Jesus

Take anxious thoughts captive by surrendering them to Jesus in prayer. This isn’t a one-and-done because prayer isn’t a magic spell. I toss back each thought like a hot potato every time it returns. 

“Jesus, I give this fearful thought to you and I refuse to take it back. I’m not in control of this (situation, person), but you are. Thank you for handling it so I can have peace.”

2.) Use Art to Cast Your Cares on Jesus

My dear friend, and fellow Candid Gal, Stephanie Carter taught me how to cast my cares during her Grace to Live Coaching. I wrote my fears on a cross I’d drawn on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. Then I wrote scriptures around the cross to let the Light of His Word expose the lies behind my fears. 

3.) Give Your Cares To Jesus In Writing 

Sometimes I give my cares to Jesus in writing. My prayer journal is like a letter to Jesus where I write “I’m so worried about this because it just doesn’t look good. But I’m giving it to you, Jesus. I can’t do anything about the situation and it’s beyond my control. I give it to you, and I’m not taking it back.” 

Journaling takes more time and energy, but something about putting it in writing makes His peace tangible and lasting. 

Related Post: Fighting Fear By Looking To Jesus & Resting In His Embrace

4.) Pack Your Cares in a Prayer Box

Write your worry on a piece of paper with a brief prayer giving the concern to Jesus. Put the paper away in a designated prayer box. You can even throw it away as a message that the fear is gone and you can’t retrieve it without dumpster-diving! When I really needed to get the message to my stubborn anxious heart, I (safely) burned the paper and flushed the ashes!

5.) Visualize Casting Your Cares On Jesus

Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I imagine packing my worries in a box. As in a daydream, I see myself picking up the box and carrying it to God. I’m careful not to imagine the face of God, but I see His radiant robes flowing off His throne. Keeping my eyes down, I lay my box at His feet as I pray, “Thank you for sacrificing Your son so I can give You my worry in exchange for His peace. This is yours, God. You’re gonna be up all night, anyway. I’ll get out of your way and let You handle it.”

6.) Activate the Power of God’s Word

Activate the living power of scripture by memorizing, writing, speaking truth to your worries to chase them away. 

Here are 5 scriptures to activate the power of God’s Word to cast your cares on Him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,”

(Matthew 11:28 NIV)

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

(Psalm 55:22 NIV)

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

(Psalm 62:8 NIV)

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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(John 14:27 NIV)

7.) Sing to Cast Your Cares on Him

Music is another way to activate God’s word. I chased anxiety away nearly every day through songs when I had breast cancer. I made a playlist of my favorite songs. I called it “Freedom” and I’d like to share my playlist with you. It’s OK if you’re like me and your voice is best kept in the confines of your vehicle or the shower. The power isn’t in your voice. It’s in God’s grace, through faith in His Son Jesus.

Click here to checkout a playlist of songs to help you cast your cares on Jesus

Join The Conversation

I’ve offered 8 tangible ways to cast your cares, but please know that none of this is magic. It’s God’s grace, as He reveals it to you through faith in the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. 

The ways to give your anxiety to Jesus are limited only by your willingness to surrender your fear to His truth. 

How will you cast your cares on Jesus today?

What does it mean to cast your cares on Jesus? @ValerieRiese shares more in this post on #CandidlyChristian Click To Tweet