Humility Combats Anxiety?!

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7,‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I was recently struck with an “a-ha” moment when I noticed that these well-known verses go together in this letter from Peter. I asked the Lord to show me how pride/humility and anxiety affect one another, and I truly believe this concept can be life changing for someone today.

Pride, by definition, raises us up in our heart and mind—which inadvertently lowers God in our heart and mind. Pride has us constantly thinking about us, which inadvertently (and subconsciously) keeps us carrying a weight we were never meant to carry. Pride keeps us thinking like this: 

How can I solve this problem?

How am I going to get through this?

What can I do here because I cannot control this?

And the result? 

Anxiety.

On the other hand, humility raises God up in our heart and mind—which inadvertently lowers us in our heart and mind. Humility has us constantly thinking about God, which keeps us thinking like this:

God, you have the solution to this problem.

God, you are going to get me through this.

God, you are in control of all things.

And the result?

Peace.

When we take the place of God in our hearts and minds, we get anxious. When it becomes ABOUT us, then we begin to carry a weight we were never meant to carry. 

When we lower ourselves in submissive humility to God, then it’s like we’re handing that weight back to the One who was meant to carry it all along. 

Pride tells us that WE are in control.

Humility reminds us that GOD is in control.

Pride tells us that WE must carry the weight. 

Humility reminds us that GOD must carry the weight.

And, while pride happens somewhat subconsciously and without effort, humility happens only on purpose. That’s why Peter says, “Humble yourselves.”

The Greek word translated “to cast” means “to throw upon.” It’s not just to throw it out there, it’s to throw it ON something or someone. 

We don’t carry it—that’s pride.   

We don’t just throw it into thin air—that’s self help. 

We throw it UPON our God—that’s the humility which brings peace.