“Refuse to worry about tomorrow,
but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.
Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
Matthew 6:34 TPT
Grace Perspective:
We are all prone to worry about the future, yet what we worry about usually never happens. In these verses, Jesus reminds us not to be anxious about tomorrow since today has enough trouble of its own. Instead, Jesus wants us to be mindful of the present, not consumed by anxiety about what the future may hold.
Earlier in this chapter, Jesus addresses many of the concerns that cause worry: fear of not having enough to eat or clothes to wear. But, then, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter, revealing what’s often at the core of our anxiety: not trusting our Heavenly Father to provide what we need.
Though we can’t know what tomorrow holds, we can trust that God does and that He will provide all we need to get through each day. Instead of focusing on the “what if’s” tomorrow may hold, Jesus tells us to focus on today. We are to take every concern to Him as Peter tells us, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC) This Scripture is a gracious reminder of the truth that God cares about every part of our lives, not just what we will eat or wear. As we take all our worry and anxiety to Him, trusting His care, His grace will prove sufficient for everything we need.
A Touch of Grace:
What worries keep you from being mindful of the present?
How does anxiety prevent you from trusting God?
Grace Application:
We all have periods of worry and anxiety. We worry about the past, the present, and the future. But what does worry accomplish? If we linger too long in anxiety, we begin to write a script about how life will go. Fighting this temptation takes effort; it means telling our souls to trust the Lord no matter what happened in the past (He can use it), what is happening in the present (He has a purpose in it), and what may happen in the future (He has a plan for it).
Life often presents circumstances that cause our minds to go into overdrive with worry and anxiety. When was the last time something unexpected happened, and you found yourself writing a whole scenario of how it would play out? Usually, my mind goes into a full-blown script-writing mode when something threatens the happiness of my loved ones. Can you relate?
It takes practice to turn our thoughts to the truth of this Scripture. Of course, we can worry about tomorrow, what may or may not happen – but what will we miss out on today by allowing worry to consume our thoughts? God alone knows what the next day holds; focusing on what we know is true at the moment helps us turn our anxious thoughts from fear of the unknown (and the desire to control the outcome) and reminds our hearts that God is present, that He has a purpose and plan for each moment, that His steadfast love never fails, and mercies are new every morning.
Anxious thoughts may still threaten to steal our peace and joy, but when we turn our minds towards God, we are reminded, “But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.” Luke 12:7 AMPC
If you are worried about tomorrow or consumed by anxious thoughts today, please reach out so we can walk through God’s Word together. I want to encourage you with the truth that if you are in Christ, “Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 AMPC
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, thankful for the gracious reminder that I shouldn’t worry about anything. Thank You for Your Word, which encourages my heart to turn to you when anxiety seeks to consume me and bring me down into a pit of despair. When I’m anxious, help my heart and thoughts turn quickly towards You and help me cast all my cares on You. Lord Jesus, help me not worry about tomorrow, but keep my mind and heart focused on Your goodness and grace as I face each day, knowing You are in control and will provide all I need for today’s trouble. Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubts may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**