A Prayer for Cares and Concerns
By Chrystal Evans Hurst
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
Our key Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:7 we ought to cast our cares upon God. The word “cast” means to throw forcibly. As it’s used in Scripture, it implies more than a casual placing of our concerns at Jesus’ feet. Casting our cares upon God gives us a picture of forcibly tossing our cares and troubles as far away from us as they will go, trusting the God who loves us can catch them and knows exactly how to deal with all that concerns us.
The Amplified Bible version of that same verse says, “casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”
I must be consistent and deliberate about noticing the little things that concern me and placing them at the Father’s feet in prayer. And I must talk to Him about those things verbally or by jotting them in my journal to symbolize giving those things to Him.
Cast or throw them with all of your might at the feet of Jesus. Pray with faith, believing God does care and He is fully capable of handling your requests. Will the cares and concerns of this life keep cropping up? Yes. They most certainly will.
But as you consistently and deliberately cast your cares on Him, you’ll begin to see how far anxiety, fear, stress or worry move away from you as you learn to trust in Him.
Philippians 4:6-7, “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.” (ESV)
Dear Father in Heaven,
So much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Content taken from the Encouragement for Today devotional, When Your Cares and Concerns Keep Cropping Up, written by Chrystal Evans Hurst. You can read that piece in full here.
Related Resource: Starting 2026 with Intention: Confidence, Diligence, and God’s Direction
As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.
I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
