Christians in our day. Men who are giants of the faith do not topple in the face of a frontal attack. The devil knows their defeat is possible only through the inner deteriora tion wrought by anxiety, and thus he makes effective use of this dead ly weapon. Indeed, pride does lead to destruction (Proverbs 16:18). The last part of verse seven con tains a word to assure us of sym pathetic help. This statement differ entiates Christianity from all other religions of the world. The basis for casting the whole of our anxiety upon the Lord lies in His attentive ness to us: "For to Him you are an object of care." He already loves us; we do not have to earn it. Such a relationship is the outgrowth of His grace and of His grace alone. The bearer of our anxieties is one and the same with the only One who really cares. His genuine con cern for us is a guarantee that He will accept whatever burden we pass on.
frustration? Can it be that they pre fer psychoanalysis to soul search ing, so that anxiety will not have to be labeled with its proper name? Could it be that many of the prob lems are not mental at all, but rather spiritual? Peter's technique for the trans- ferral of anxiety is rather specific: (1) His choice of the word "cast" or "throw" instead of "place" in dicates that energetic effort is in volved. There is deliberate motion when one throws an object. (2) It is a once-for-all action (aorist participle). It is synonymous with the act of humiliation of verse six. A person does not accomplish one without performing the other. Both are carried out at one deci sive moment. (3) It is not an optional matter, but is in the form of a command. Psalm 55:22 whence the quotation is taken makes the imperatival force even more clear-cut. (4) The singular number of "care" or "anxiety" unites all the individ ual circumstances into one. We do not throw aside each care as it arises; rather we cast off "the whole of" our anxiety in one decisive act. This is not a picture of careless indifference to the problem, nor is it one of reckless negligence or blind enthusiasm, but a deliberate act of placing all upon the shoul ders of Him who has allowed the circumstances to come to pass. The consequences of failure to heed this advice are evident in the words of I Peter 5:8. Satanic de struction awaits him who treats the sin of pride lightly and does not earnestly strive to cultivate the vir tue of humility. Surely this lurking enemy is the only explanation for the downfall of many outstanding
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