Be Encouraged: You Don’t Need to Worry About Tomorrow or Things in the Near or Even Distant Future

And why are you anxious…But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you?” Matthew 6:28, 30

It has been said that worry is a waste of time. Most of the things we worry about never come to fruition, and even if they do, it’s a waste of energy since not even worry will keep them from happening. When we worry ahead of time, we worry twice: once before something actually happens, and then when it happens.

The opposite of worry is not peace, it’s trusting in God. We cannot both trust God and worry at the same time. We are either entrusting our situation or an outcome into his care or we are worrying about how things will turn out or go. Worrying simply means we have chosen to go ahead of God, determined in our head, emotions, attitude, heart, and spirit what an outcome will be, instead of choosing the path of waiting on God, walking with him, leaning on our faith in him to be who he is: Almighty, All-powerful, All-knowing, wise, and our faithful, sustaining, loving, and providing God and Father.  

Worry feeds on our limited knowledge and inability to know what tomorrow or the next day or the results will be. Viewing life and events from this perspective gives worry space to move in and start playing with our emotions and brain. Naturally, as humans are prone to do, we immediately go to the very worst scenario and began to paint our canvas with the darkest colors.

But on the converse, when we look at or think about the unknown or whatever we are facing from the person and position of God then we are feeling confident and at peace because we are remembering who and what God is, we are reflecting on his character, nature, and truths that we have come to know:

God is loving; he certainly loves me.

God is caring; he certainly cares about me as an individual and my life.

God is creative; He certainly can do some creative things in his world and in my life.

God can make good things come out of even the worst situations; He certainly can do that very thing with the events and circumstances of my life.

God has a plan for everything; this certainly includes the truth that he has a plan for my life and not even one event or outcome will change that.

When Jesus’ visited the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, he told Martha she was “concerned and worried over many things but only one thing was needed.” (Luke 38-42). When he peeks into the corners and hidden corridors of our thoughts and emotions does he say the same to us? “(Name) you are worried and concerned over many things but only one thing is needed.

Like Mary chose the one thing needed, the only thing that is needed when we are prone to worry over or about anything, any situations, any outcome, is Jesus. When we turn our attention away from the problem or unknown and focus on Christ, who he is and what he can do, worry begins to fall away and lose it’s grip on our emotions, thoughts, and heart; our faith in him opens us up to new blessings.

In this area I am grateful Jesus knows me so well and when I start down that path—especially if I am awake in the middle of the night—immediately Jesus enters in to remind me of who he is, his power, and love for me. Like a loving mother does her fussy infant, he soothes me back to sleep with his promises and care.

Our loving and powerful God does not want us to take the path of worry because only he knows the future and how he is going to work things through for us and his world. He is on the path with us when we trust, leading and guiding, comforting, and strengthening us, but the path of worry is not his.    

Nothing is impossible or too hard for God; And that also means there is nothing about your life or circumstances that present a challenge to him; nothing is too hard, too complicated, too challenging for God. You can choose to worry alone or take the path of looking to Christ, trusting in God, and have the companionship of the Holy Spirit as you wait. Let’s Pray,

Dear God, I adore you and all your beautiful ways. I confess I don’t always turn to or trust in your promises or presence as quickly as I should and thank you for your patient reminders to me that you can do all things, even the hard things in my life and circumstances. Today I remember that because you sent Jesus to save me from the sin of worry and bound me to you through his blood and righteousness,  your promises of care are eternally sealed in my life; now let them be sealed in my heart and mind also.  

Affirming Activity:

How will you affirm or reaffirm today’s Bible promise over your life or circumstances?

How will you incorporate today’s promise from God’s Word into your plan of self-care?