“Part of humbling yourself is acknowledging you’re not okay, allowing yourself to be helped, and allowing Jesus to comfort you.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 15, 2026
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7, NASB 1977
I’ve read 1 Peter 5:7 so many times. I’ve prayed it for people, even tried it for myself. But I’d never thought about it like I did this morning.
Many people deal with chronic pain. Me too. I don’t say this to complain (though I’ve done my share of that); I say it so those of you who suffer daily will know you’re not alone. And I say it now, in this context, so maybe this verse you’ve likely heard many times might mean something new – because that’s what happened to me this morning when I (finally) decided to take time to read the whole passage.
I very frequently say that we shouldn’t take Bible verses out of context, but that’s exactly what I’d been doing with this verse – reading 1 Peter 5:7 like it’s not the second half of a sentence (though it is). Reading the whole thing changes it from feeling something a little too good to be true to … a command and something we might be missing.
“…casting all your anxiety upon him ….”
The version I read this morning said, “casting all your cares.” I’d seen “burdens,” but I’d never noticed other versions said “anxiety.” This is interesting. The things we’re called to cast are burdens we don’t feel like we can carry, pain we don’t feel like we can bear, fears we can’t shake, even anxieties we can’t describe. He wants all the intolerable feelings, even anger. (See Psalm 109!).
That’s where the learning started for me. He wants it. I was in tears because I wouldn’t wish the pain in my joints when I wake up in the morning on my worst enemy. How could I put it on Jesus? Hasn’t he suffered enough for me?! I guess the answer is both “Yes, certainly He’s suffered enough,” and “No, this isn’t a good excuse for avoiding this command.”
It is a command. This is what I’d missed. It’s part of being humbled by God, so that He can exalt us at the right time. (The version I read this morning used the word “lift you up,” – literally, exactly what I needed).
Part of humbling yourself is acknowledging you’re not okay, allowing yourself to be helped, and allowing Jesus to comfort you. Why is this so hard?
Sometimes I don’t like to ask for help. Sometimes I don’t slow down to talk to Jesus about what I’m struggling with. Sometimes I try to tough it out. But when I skipped back a couple of verses, I realized this is sin. God opposes this behavior in me! The One who condemns the sin of pride that makes me think “I’ve got this,” “I don’t need any help,” is the same One who’ll comfort me when I finally admit “I don’t got this; I do need help.”
I’m learning that when I move past the pride of thinking I can deal with everything myself, there’s a Comforter waiting for me, a Savior willing to bear everything and suffer with me, and a Father who loves humbled hearts.
I hope you’ll join me in seeing this as a fresh start, a new opportunity to obey this command and give Jesus the hard things. I hope you’ll find deep comfort from the Savior who loves you even when you share the worst with Him.
Prayer
Jesus, you have taken every ounce of sin and suffering. Why should I lay more on You? It pains me to add to Your sufferings, but You have commanded it. Please give me the courage and the faith to take You at Your word, to trust You enough to come to You with everything and never to lean on my own understanding or my own grit. Thank You for this offer that is both difficult and wonderful. And thank You that You are always with us, even in the ugly stuff.
Application
Read 1 Peter 5:5-7 and do what it says. Whatever you are toughing out, whatever pain or fear or emotion or struggle you’re dealing with, take it to Him and humble yourself. If you succeed today (and even if you don’t) try to do it again tomorrow, and then the next day, and the next one, until it becomes a habit and your life with Christ becomes richer for it.
Related Reading
Matthew 18:4, Isaiah 57:15, Psalm 51:17
Worship Resource
Michael Card: Come Lift up Your Sorrows
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