This passage is both comforting and scary. How difficult is it to leave everything up to God? For me, it's extremely difficult. I want to take matters into my own hands. I want things to happen in my time. Sometimes it's hard to trust anyone but myself.
With all of the changes and upheaval of the past month and a half, we've all had to adapt to a different way of life. Now, in some states, we're moving forward with plans to get back to something that slightly resembles what we consider "normal", but it will really be another upheaval and we'll have to adapt to even more changes.
We want reassurance that our jobs will return to normal, that we'll be free to do whatever we want to do. We want to believe in that paycheck and be able to count on getting it. We want to be able to go to the grocery and know that the food we want will be available when we get there. Just those little consistencies are so helpful in trying times, but when they're absent, the little things can turn into the straw that broke the camel's back.
Christ tells us that it's pointless to worry. He tells us that God provides for the needs of the birds, lilies, grass. Why then wouldn't He provide for us, His children? Christ asks us what good does it do to worry? What does it accomplish? Does worry provide you with food and clothing? Our Father knows what we need and He takes care of those needs. We just need to trust in Him.
Let Him take care of you. Talk to Him and tell Him what you're going through, how you're feeling, what your concerns are. Praise Him for the blessings He bestows on you. Glorify Him by helping others who are less fortunate than you.
I go through so many different emotions in one day; it drives me crazy. But one thing always makes everything better, and that's talking to my Father. Sometimes it's a prayer, sometimes it's just talking. I also find comfort in devotionals and reading the bible. So, if you're feeling a little shaken right now, I encourage you to just stop and take a few minutes to meditate on what this passage is saying:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV
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Please join me in praying this week for the Holy Spirit to fill us with unconditional trust in our Father, and to remind us that He's always there for us. Please pray for His sovereign guidance through the good times and the bad. Pray for wisdom and strength. Praise Him for His countless blessings.
I'll post daily reminders on:
