The Big Gift

1 Peter 5:1-7

Anxiety makes us forget truth.

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:1–7 (ESV)

1. What is the root of anxiety?

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves… How do you do that? By casting all your anxieties on Him.

Anxiety is pride that hides itself as humility.

Anxiety is rooted in pride, because it reveals that we are trying to take God’s place. It reveals our distrust in Him. It reveals our fears that He is going to get it all wrong. Our God is in charge, but He is going to get it all wrong.

25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? —Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. —Matthew 6:32 (ESV)

Look at it like this:
Whatever it is that you are worried about, the reason behind it — the reason that you are worried — is because you are saying, you know. You know how it is supposed to go. It must go this way. It can’t happen any other way.

God would give you only what you would have asked for if you knew what He knows. —Tim Keller

Anxiety is fearing that God is going to get it wrong.

Bitterness is believing that God did get it wrong.

Anxiety is rooted in the pride that says, “God is going to get it wrong. If I were in charge, if I had all the power, I’d get it right.”

2. How do we fall into anxiety?

6 Don’t be anxious about anything… —Philippians 4:6a (ESV)

Why does he say that? Because we worry about everything.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. —Psalm 27:1–3 (ESV)

The world thinks that the reason we fall into anxiety is because we worry about all kinds of things that will never happen, and the solution is: stop doing that.

But is that what David is doing?

He is saying, even if these things happen, my heart will not fear. I will be confident. He is the stronghold of my life, my light and salvation, of whom shall I be afraid?

We fall into anxiety, not because we are needlessly worrying about our worst-case scenarios. We fall into anxiety because we don’t have a view of God that enables us to face our worst-case scenarios. —Hamlin Suh

What do you fear most?

Do you have a view of God that will enable you to deal with it?

3. How do we battle anxiety?

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. —Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

Why is David able to face off his greatest fear?
One thing — God

If God is what I want, then I am fearless, I am safe.

Sin is having disordered loves. —Augustine

Anxiety comes into our lives when a good thing that has become our one thing becomes threatened.

David is praying, “God, You be my one thing.”

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? —Romans 8:35 (ESV)

God is the only one strong enough to bear the burden of being your one thing.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

He is worthy because He is both mighty and He cares.

What if He were only mighty but didn’t care?
We would have no confidence that He would use His might for our good.

What if He cared but was not mighty?
He loves you so much, but he can’t do anything about your fears. (“Sorry that’s outside of my control.”)

The reason why He is worthy is because He is BOTH.

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6 (ESV)