What does the word “anxieties” mean?

The term Peter uses can mean something as mild as cares or concerns as well as something so serious as burdens and worries. Jesus had stressed that we are more precious to the Father than flowers and more safe in his hands than birds (Matthew 6:25–26), and so worry is out of place for the Christian. He had said too that the “cares” of this life can choke out the Word of God (Mark 4:19). Yet the suffering that comes with the “fiery trial” of 1 Peter 4:12 can certainly knock a child of God off balance. Hence the instruction to deliberately lay every pressure point at the Lord’s feet.