{"id":678,"date":"2020-08-24T15:53:18","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T20:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/?p=678"},"modified":"2022-12-19T13:25:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T19:25:06","slug":"living-today-without-the-worry-of-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/living-today-without-the-worry-of-tomorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Living today without the worry of tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered what tomorrow will bring? Certainly, during this season of pandemic there has been plenty of concern and worry about the future. Will the virus spike again? Will my city go back into lockdown? Will my family remain healthy? Will my ministry ever return to normal? Will\u2026. Question after question has entered our minds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This week I ran across an article <\/span>[1]<\/span><\/sup><\/span> highlighting this verse in Matthew 6:34:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>So don\u2019t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries.<\/span><\/i> Today\u2019s trouble is enough for today<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Amen! I don\u2019t have to tackle tomorrow today. That\u2019s a relief. Honestly, all that space for worrying in my mind has been filled up anyways. Maxed out. 2020 has done a great job of that. But the truth is, uncertainty is hard. It\u2019s challenging to live in the space of the unknown. While I know anything can happen in 6 months, I have never been less confident in knowing what next year will bring than I am today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Christians how do we deal with the worry that comes our way? What does Jesus really mean in this verse and how do we apply it to the uncertain times we live in today?<\/span><\/p>\n

As I reflected on this verse, along with the context of Matthew 6, four things stuck out to me. Truths that I think can encourage us, inspire us and reassure us during these uneasy times when worry can easily creep in.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. God Provides<\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Look at the birds\u2026 (v.26) See the lilies of the field (v.28) Look at the grass of the field (v.30). Jesus gives these vivid and beautiful examples of how God provides and cares for the things of nature. \u2018Why worry?\u2019 He says. If God provides for them how much more will He provide for you. (v.30)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

God is not a watchmaker that sets up the clock and lets it run and steps to the side. That is not how He created the earth. He is intricately involved in every aspect of creation. (Heb. 1:3). Christ sustains all things. As we work and seek His kingdom, we can trust that He will care for our needs. Which leads to the second point\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

2. To overcome worry we must pursue God\u2019s promises.<\/h4>\n

\u201cBut pursue first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.\u201d<\/span><\/i> (v.33)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have heard that there are somewhere around 3,000 promises in the Bible. Amazing! I think this is one of the great ones. If you make God the focus, His ways and His love the motivation, Him the priority, all your needs will be met.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Anxiety is useless<\/h4>\n

\u201c<\/span>Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life<\/span><\/i>?\u201d (v.27)<\/span><\/p>\n

Your anxiety does nothing good for you whatsoever. It adds nothing to the length of your life. In fact, if anything it shortens it. <\/span>[2]<\/span> Worry is foolishness because it brings no benefit. Don\u2019t let worry rob you of the joy of today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Life is on loan anyway<\/h4>\n

God has ordained each day (both its pleasures and troubles) given to you. And He promises to never give you what you can\u2019t handle through His strength. (1 Cor. 10:13) Don\u2019t bring tomorrow and its anxiety into today. Walk through today and let tomorrow come as it does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is easy to hate this year and to wonder what\u2019s coming next. As the days have ticked by and the weeks have turned into months, I can\u2019t help but wonder; \u201c<\/span>isn\u2019t life on loan anyways<\/span><\/i>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all a fragile journey. A brief existence. A few precious fleeting years. Life doesn\u2019t guarantee a decade. Life only lends moments at a time. We only have today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We may wrestle with the disappointment and sadness of our lost hopes for the future, but may that sadness not consume us into worry. May we not miss the time we have been given or lose sight of the treasures God has awaiting in front of us at this very moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what the future will bring, <\/span>but the future never really belonged to me anyway<\/i><\/b>. I do have today, though. And today will bring enough worries of its own. <\/span>[2]<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

God bless you my friends! I\u2019m here for you. Let me know if there are ways to serve you. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

\n

Growth Point<\/span>:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Worry brings no benefit but the promises of God for today are something to rest in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scripture Point<\/span>:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Read Matthew 6:25-34.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Action Point:<\/span><\/h4>\n

How do you deal with your worries? Make a list of the things that are overwhelming you. Next write a promise of God next to that item that can help you confront that worry. Finally, take that list to the Lord through individual prayer and ask Him to speak and assure you of His promises. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
[1] https:\/\/www.alifeoverseas.com<\/span><\/h6>\n
[2] <\/span>https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/worry-and-anxiety-impact-longevity-2223983<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
https:\/\/bible.org\/seriespage\/29-how-overcome-worry-matthew-625-34<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
https:\/\/www.desiringgod.org\/messages\/do-not-be-anxious-about-your-life<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/div>
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