Peter knows his readers are afraid. Persecution is real. Opposition is closing in. He tells them to resist the devil, standing firm in faith, knowing that their suffering is shared by believers everywhere.
But before that, he tells them to cast their anxiety on God because he cares for them. Not because anxiety is bad or weak, but because there's someone who will hold it. You don't have to carry the weight alone.
The image of the devil as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour is terrifying. But the previous image is more powerful: God cares for you. If you know you're cared for, if you've given your anxiety to someone trustworthy, then the lion's roar loses some of its power. You're not facing it alone or undefended. You're defended by someone who cares what happens to you.
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