Philippians 4: 6, 7

“Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This verse and its entire chapter have brought me much comfort over the years, especially in times filled with cares or worries. We live in a world that is increasingly fast-paced and burden-loaded, ready to hit you with one more thing to carry on the shoulders of your heart. Whether it be the children you care about, the family you love, relationships to mend, or responsibilities to attend, chances are, you have had the opportunity to feel the weight of cares or worries creeping into the corners of your mind.

Phil 4 :6 instructs us to ‘Be careful for nothing…but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’

Another scripture that ministers to me on this subject is 1 Peter 5: 6, 7, which reads:

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 

If you’re anything like me, you finished these verses in your heart before your eyes even had time to catch up. They are such necessary reminders of proper priority placement in this busy and bustling world. While I was reading through this one day, the familiarity of my heart to these scriptures caused me to read them with the ‘dictionary’ definition in mind: ‘a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern.’ That is the standard dictionary definition, and the one that most people think of when they hear this verse. But when I looked up the actual meaning of the word ‘care’ in this verse, its Greek translation shows us another interpretation.

Both of these words ‘careful’ and care’ are rooted in the Greek word ‘merimna’, which means ‘through the idea of distraction.’

Distraction. Now that is a word I understand. That is a word I know about — and I don’t need the Greek to define it for me! It’s a word that practically defines a generation, with its social media and digital games. Distraction is a word trying to root itself in the foundation of our culture, and embed itself in the cracks of Christian characters around the globe. Distraction. I believe it is one of the single most devastating roadblocks to the cause of Christ and to the passion in the souls of thousands.

Is this verse saying I can cast my distractions on the Lord?

Let’s replace the word ‘care’ with ‘distraction’ in verse, to give us a more accurate picture of what Peter is describing:

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your distractions upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Wow! This new meaning puts this verse in a whole different light!

Do you feel overwhelmed with the burden of things you need to do, bills you have to pay, or people who are depending on you? Any number of other things could also fit the description of a burden. These things can not only be cares, but they can also become distractions. Distractions don’t have to be really bad things. They can simply be anything that distracts you from what your true purpose is, and what is the most important thing. They are things that fill your life with black and white static instead of color-filled pictures.

The problem is described in the parable of the sower in Mark 4. The sower was sowing good seed, but as verse 7 reads, the seed “fell among thorn plants, and the thistles grew and pressed together and utterly choked and suffocated it, and it yielded no grain.” Verse 19 describes it further: “Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.”

Not only the cares, but the distractions of life can cause you to be fruitless! Just as the Word is alive, they are also alive, and can cause the Word to have little to no effect in your life, killing and choking out all that is good and all that is lovely.

God tells us the answer — to cast them each, once and for all, on Him. On Him who cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully (the Amplified translation of 1 Peter 5:7).

So think about this verse in this way — not just casting your cares on God, but also recognizing any distractions that could be taking you away from Him and His Word.

Have you ever felt like you have been sitting under the Word, going to church, and doing all you know to do, but the seeds of change and inspiration you desired were just not sticking in your heart? If so, then check up on these areas.

It could be that all that is needed is a simply adjustment of casting not only your ‘worries’ but also your ‘distractions’ on Him. The Amplified of 1 Peter 5:6 says that “He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” Receive His love, His forgiveness, His grace for you today. Humble yourself and obey His word by casting all these things, and He will go, do, and accomplish more with them than you ever could on your own.

Release worry, relinquish distractions, and receive peace!