Humility vs Anxiety

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

Peter seems to make a connection between humbling ourselves (under leadership and under God) and casting our anxiety on Him. 

To be truly humble is to relinquish any self driven control over the situation. 

See Jesus example / He let go of every right He deserved.  He let go of every comfort that was His and due Him.  He only did what the Father instructed.  And when facing the cross (not just a physical death but the ascribing of our sin onto Him a Holy Son of God Son of Man AND it's wages/punishment death, hell and separation from the Father and Spirit) although He cried out for another way He submitted (humbled Himself).

Jesus relinquished control over everything to the authority of the Father and submitted to the Father and to the authority of man.  (grew in obedience, paid taxes, obeyed his parents, only to the point of not sinning).

I think one of the reasons we cast our cares with elastic strings attached, pulling these cares back off our altar of prayer and thanksgiving is that we have not fully humbled ourselves.  

Relinquishing control is NOT relinquishing the Authority of Christ (His Word and Holy Spirit).  I think sometimes Pentecostals see it that way.  As if somehow humbling ourselves, serving obediently, and saying in prayer "not my will but thy will be done" in areas where God's Word and character clearing indicate His will and ability (i.e. Healing), that somehow that level of humbling/relinquishing is also letting go of authority.  But look at the life of Jesus that isn't true, he was humble and obedient yet always had the power and authority of God.

If we would relinquish control over everything and humble ourselves - truly humble ourselves in obedience to our authorities (not just their words, but their intention and expectation and not just when they are "watching") and humble ourselves under God's mighty hand and authority (giving Him ALL control to handle our cares any way He wants to, no matter what).  Then we will truly leave our cares and anxieties in the only hands that are capable and leave our situations in His knowledge and wisdom that is far above our own and beyond our understanding.

It feels like a powerless vulnerable position to take (like dying to live), but when we humble ourselves and relinquish all control and thoughts that try to figure out our situations and ways we can control the situation to achieve relief from what plagues our mind, body and soul (i.e. "what can I do to make this better") and embrace humble obedience and instead, simply strive to please God and achieve His holiness and the fullness of the fruit of His Spirit in every moment of our day, that is when God really changes us and heals our souls and empowers our spirits and transforms us to Glorify only God. This takes faith in His all mighty hand.  This takes trust in His love that never fails.  This takes accepting that His ways are higher than our ability to understand.  This takes accepting that He loves and is for, those who diligently seek Him and that He works all things together for our eternal good. 

It in the end it becomes a choice to LET GO OF ALL CONTROL (not just actions or words but thoughts and attitudes of our heart) ... to let it go ... and humble ourselves.

THEN we can cast our anxieties on Him knowing He cares about us and will in due time lift and restore.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV)