Mother’s Day reminds us of the strength, love, and resilience that so many women carry. It’s a day to honor every kind of mother—those raising little ones, those with grown children, those who’ve lost a child, and those who long to become one. We also celebrate the spiritual moms, the grandmas, foster moms, and women who have stepped into the lives of children with open hearts. Your love leaves an eternal impact.
But even in the middle of celebration, many carry something else quietly: anxiety.
When Concern Turns Into Something More
I still remember my first car... It was a white Toyota Camry. It had great gas mileage, it was new, and it symbolized freedom. But for me, freedom felt like fear. I avoided highways, worried about getting gas alone, and feared the worst every time I turned the key. Then, just months later, I totaled that car. That crash wasn’t just physical; it shook my confidence. Suddenly, driving wasn’t just a task—it triggered anxiety.
And maybe you can relate. Maybe it’s not driving, but your health. Or your child. Or your finances. Anxiety doesn’t need a reason, it just needs a moment to speak loudly.
Concern. Worry. Anxiety. There’s a difference between the three:
Concern is caring.
Worry is uncertainty.
Anxiety is worry on overdrive—it’s when fear takes up residence in your mind, body, and soul.
And if we don’t deal with it, anxiety doesn’t just mess with our thoughts, it starts messing with everything. It wears down your body, steals your peace, and keeps you from walking in the purpose God has for you.
You Were Never Meant to Carry It
The truth is, you are not created to carry what you were meant to cast.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us:
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
But what does casting actually look like? Sometimes, we don’t cast—we cuddle our anxiety. We identify with it. We let it define us.
Other times, we cast partway—giving it to God but keeping the control.
And far too often, we reel it back in—we surrender in worship but snatch it back in the parking lot.
Even worse, we cast it onto people who were never meant to carry it—our spouse, our friends, our therapist. They can help, but only God can heal.
Cast It Like You Mean It
In the original Greek, the word “cast” in 1 Peter 5:7 means to hurl violently. Not to hand off quietly. It’s an intentional, forceful throw—because anxiety doesn’t let go unless we do.
We don’t get the peace of verse 7 without the humility of verse 6:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
We want the anxiety to end, but we resist letting go of our pride, our control, our timelines.
But faith requires trust. And trust requires surrender.
Strength in the Struggle
God often strengthens us in the waiting. Like lifting weights, the discomfort builds the muscle. What you’re resenting might actually be the very thing God is using to prepare you.
And here’s a truth I’ve learned: I don’t control every outcome, but I do control who I become. In the fight against anxiety, our most powerful weapon isn’t willpower... it’s the Word of God, worship, and the community around us.
5 Keys to Sober-Minded Living
Prayer, Worship, and God’s Word – There’s no substitute for time with God.
Prioritize Church Community – You weren’t meant to fight alone.
Diet and Exercise – What you feed your body affects your mind.
Sleep and Rest – When you rest, God goes to work.
Control Your Thoughts + Give Thanks – Lead your thoughts, don’t let them lead you.
A Final Thought
You are not your diagnosis. You are not your fear. You are not your shame. You are a child of God—created, known, and loved.
So today, Pray. Pause. Praise.
And when anxiety comes knocking, remind it that you were never meant to carry it—you were always meant to cast it.
But even in the middle of celebration, many carry something else quietly: anxiety.
When Concern Turns Into Something More
I still remember my first car... It was a white Toyota Camry. It had great gas mileage, it was new, and it symbolized freedom. But for me, freedom felt like fear. I avoided highways, worried about getting gas alone, and feared the worst every time I turned the key. Then, just months later, I totaled that car. That crash wasn’t just physical; it shook my confidence. Suddenly, driving wasn’t just a task—it triggered anxiety.
And maybe you can relate. Maybe it’s not driving, but your health. Or your child. Or your finances. Anxiety doesn’t need a reason, it just needs a moment to speak loudly.
Concern. Worry. Anxiety. There’s a difference between the three:
Concern is caring.
Worry is uncertainty.
Anxiety is worry on overdrive—it’s when fear takes up residence in your mind, body, and soul.
And if we don’t deal with it, anxiety doesn’t just mess with our thoughts, it starts messing with everything. It wears down your body, steals your peace, and keeps you from walking in the purpose God has for you.
You Were Never Meant to Carry It
The truth is, you are not created to carry what you were meant to cast.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us:
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
But what does casting actually look like? Sometimes, we don’t cast—we cuddle our anxiety. We identify with it. We let it define us.
Other times, we cast partway—giving it to God but keeping the control.
And far too often, we reel it back in—we surrender in worship but snatch it back in the parking lot.
Even worse, we cast it onto people who were never meant to carry it—our spouse, our friends, our therapist. They can help, but only God can heal.
Cast It Like You Mean It
In the original Greek, the word “cast” in 1 Peter 5:7 means to hurl violently. Not to hand off quietly. It’s an intentional, forceful throw—because anxiety doesn’t let go unless we do.
We don’t get the peace of verse 7 without the humility of verse 6:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
We want the anxiety to end, but we resist letting go of our pride, our control, our timelines.
But faith requires trust. And trust requires surrender.
Strength in the Struggle
God often strengthens us in the waiting. Like lifting weights, the discomfort builds the muscle. What you’re resenting might actually be the very thing God is using to prepare you.
And here’s a truth I’ve learned: I don’t control every outcome, but I do control who I become. In the fight against anxiety, our most powerful weapon isn’t willpower... it’s the Word of God, worship, and the community around us.
5 Keys to Sober-Minded Living
Prayer, Worship, and God’s Word – There’s no substitute for time with God.
Prioritize Church Community – You weren’t meant to fight alone.
Diet and Exercise – What you feed your body affects your mind.
Sleep and Rest – When you rest, God goes to work.
Control Your Thoughts + Give Thanks – Lead your thoughts, don’t let them lead you.
A Final Thought
You are not your diagnosis. You are not your fear. You are not your shame. You are a child of God—created, known, and loved.
So today, Pray. Pause. Praise.
And when anxiety comes knocking, remind it that you were never meant to carry it—you were always meant to cast it.
The End of Anxiety
May 11th, 2025