There is a profound difference between knowing a truth and living by it.

You can quote the verse. You may even have it highlighted in your Bible or underlined in your journal.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

— 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

It sounds beautiful. But do we actually do it?

The Theoretical vs. the Actual

We often live in the tension between what we believe intellectually and what we practice functionally. We say we trust God. We say we know He cares for us. But when anxiety comes—when the weight of life presses in—we default to ourselves. We assume the posture of self-sustainment.

We begin to operate under the unspoken belief:

“Jesus saved me… but now it’s my job to handle everything else.”

This mindset is not uncommon. In fact, it’s the way many believers live every day: saved by grace, but trying to walk by works. Joy fades. Heaviness lingers. Anxiety becomes the norm. We get confused, conflicted, and exhausted—not because God failed us, but because we’ve taken back what we were meant to give Him.

Saved for Glory—And Carried Along the Way

Yes, Jesus is the Savior of our souls. But He is also the Shepherd of our days.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

— Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)

This is the invitation: to stop striving, stop pretending, stop carrying what was never ours to hold.

Christ didn’t come just to save you after death—He came to walk with you in life. He didn’t give you righteousness and then leave you to figure out peace and joy on your own. He gives us rest now. Peace now. Hope now. He is both our destination and our strength along the journey.

The Danger of Self-Sustainment

When we believe it’s our job to sustain ourselves, we unknowingly take on a role never meant for us. That’s why we burn out. That’s why we carry guilt, confusion, and shame. We look around, wondering why our faith feels heavy, why joy is elusive.

Could it be that we’ve stepped into a position that only Christ can fill?

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

— Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

You were never called to live by your own strength. You were called to live by faith in the One who lives in you.

The Invitation: Cast It All

We don’t cast our anxieties on Christ as a spiritual exercise or a poetic gesture. We cast them because He truly cares.

It’s not weakness to let go. It’s obedience.

It’s not failure to lean on Him. It’s faith.

It’s not irresponsible to surrender control. It’s wise.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.”

— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

Maybe you’ve been living under pressure that was never yours. Maybe the reason you feel stuck or heavy or spiritually “off” is because you’ve been trying to do something that isn’t your assignment.

The weight you’re carrying?

The stress you’ve normalized?

The fear that lingers in the background of your thoughts?

Jesus already made a way for you to hand those over.

Practical Steps to Live This Out:

1. Name Your Anxieties – Be honest with God. He already knows. Naming them is part of releasing them.
2. Speak Scripture Over Your Situation – Replace lies with truth. Speak verses like 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28–30, and Psalm 55:22.
3. Pray from a Place of Surrender – Not just requests, but release. Pray: “God, this is not mine to carry. I give it to You.”
4. Invite Others In – Don’t suffer alone. We are the Body of Christ for a reason.
5. Practice Stillness – Sometimes we fill every moment with noise. Pause. Listen. Be with Him.

Written by Jeyran Main

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