“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
Worrying about the future is something we are all prone to do, 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. 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 and or clothes to wear. 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 for us, His grace will prove to be sufficient for everything we need.
A Touch of Grace:
What are you worried about today?
What does worry reveal about how you trust God?
Grace Application:
Worry, we all worry. We worry about the past, the present, and the future. But what does worry accomplish? If we linger too long in worry, our hearts may begin to race, and we begin to write a script about how life will go. I had to fight the temptation to let worry consume me last week as the following scenario interrupted life as I knew it.
I woke up one-morning last week, and it seemed like it would be another typical day. However, soon after waking, things begin to go awry. One of the pups smashed her head into mine, and I had a nasty bump that hurt. I laughed it off and said, “Well, that’s not how I wanted the day to start!” I went about getting ready for the day, started work, and suddenly heard yelling and screaming down the hall. I ran out to see what the commotion was all about and found my 86-year-old Mom on the floor and my 83-year-old Dad trying to help her stand. Umm….the day was not going well at all.
Dad and I helped Mom back to bed. She was in obvious pain, but I couldn’t tell if there was swelling or bruising because she wouldn’t let me look at the area where she hurt. Did I mention Mom has dementia?
In His grace, God had the home health nurse arrive within minutes of getting Mom into bed. The nurse ordered an x-ray, and we found out Mom had a broken hip. The day was going from annoying to downright scary. Worry started to cloud my thoughts as I wondered how we would get Mom to the hospital without her having a total meltdown. I was worried about her hitting the emergency workers as they try to help her. (Mom is in the stage of dementia where she becomes violent when she’s scared) My thoughts spiral downward quickly as I worry that maybe they won’t take her to the hospital if she’s uncooperative. Then stories of how many older people never recover after breaking a hip start running through my mind. After that, other fears threatened to take me down into the pit of despair.
Slowly I turned my thoughts to the truth of this Scripture. I can’t worry about tomorrow, what may or may not happen. God alone knows what the next day holds, so I have to focus on what I know is true at the moment. I turned my anxious thoughts to my Heavenly Father, reminding my heart that God is present, that He loves my Mom, that He has a purpose and plan at this moment, and that His steadfast love never fails, and His mercies are new every morning.
This week Mom is recovering from partial hip-replacement surgery. God has provided in ways I couldn’t have anticipated when the crisis started. Anxious thoughts still threaten to steal my peace and joy, but when I turn my mind towards God, I am graciously reminded that “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, Thank You 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. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**