Because once Ruthie is stable on her feet, she’ll be ready. It’s like clockwork…as soon as we play this self-composed loop from Garage Band, she can’t help but dance. Though with all the arm swings, hand claps, stretches, leg lifts and head rolls, it’s hard to tell if she’s dancing or doing her morning calisthenics routine.

As I am studying 1 Peter 5, I’m struck by the relationship between humility and anxiety. The verse says: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

The verse connects two seemingly unrelated thoughts, humility and anxiety. Consider the opposite of each: humility – pride and anxiety – peace. Now think mathematically with me for a moment. If peacefulness reveals humility before God, then anxiety reveals pride.

What am I anxious about today? Marriage? Money? Kids? Job? Health? By holding onto my anxiety, I am actually being prideful. I am either saying I can handle this myself, or I’m despairing, not knowing what to do next.

But when I cast my anxiety on God (i.e. pray), I am showing my humility before Him because I trust Him to actually take that anxiety and have control over the situation. And the word for cast means to throw off, as in taking your coat off and throwing it onto the couch. It’s gone, off your back.

May we humble ourselves before God and throw those heavy cumbersome anxieties on Him. He is more than able to handle it.