Matthew 6:25-34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Our pastor’s wife, who leads the songs, read from this passage in Matthew this past Sunday. The words are familiar, the sentiment – timeless. Right now, with so many crazy things going on in the world, I find myself searching for verses like these to reassure myself that everything IS going to be alright.
Work has been more than tense recently as our company announced salary reductions and rumors swirl constantly. Last night I was involved in my first ever fender bender…in which I actually bent MY fender pretty bad. Yes, the fender in our NEW car. Ugh. While insurance will handle the repairs, it has been a hassle and an emotional roller coaster for me…feeling bad and dumb – it was 100% my fault…feeling anxious that I didn’t provide the other party the right information…feeling relieved that the claim had been filed and things were going to be repaired…feeling angry that the other party is trying to claim injuries, when our altercation was more of a push…not even a bump…frustrated that I got myself in this mess…there is a definite negative air about us all the time, it seems.
But – I have to stop myself from getting too upset about it all and try to take things in stride. Yes, it STINKS that I have to give up some of my salary…but I’d MUCH rather have my job – it is far more valuable than just the dollars in my paycheck. Yes, it STINKS that my new car has a big wrinkle in the fender and needs to be fixed…but it will be fixed and thankfully we have good insurance to take care of us. It would be easy to get down, and stay there…to let myself crumple underneath the weight of surmounting difficulties and negative situations. But I won’t let that happen…I just can’t. I can’t look around and feel as pitiful as I want to – there are just too many good things to let the bad overshadow them.
Matt and I talked the other night about all the negativity surrounding work and the uncertain economy…and we both agreed that ultimately all we can do is try and trust that we will be provided for. We have been MORE than provided for in the past…and it’s not because of anything we’ve done – we give the entire acknowledgement to God. He has provided for us time and time and time and time again – it simply cannot be refuted, cannot be ignored, cannot be any other possibility. We have been blessed – and we can take that reassurance with us each day as we prepare for whatever comes our way. I want to breathe it in each morning, letting it sweep through and calm my frazzled mind and anxious heart. I know there are so many people right now struggling with their own uncertain futures, my own family included as my Dad searches for a new job – and I offer up prayers. Prayers for guidance, for peace, for all the needs to be met.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Our pastor’s wife, who leads the songs, read from this passage in Matthew this past Sunday. The words are familiar, the sentiment – timeless. Right now, with so many crazy things going on in the world, I find myself searching for verses like these to reassure myself that everything IS going to be alright.
Work has been more than tense recently as our company announced salary reductions and rumors swirl constantly. Last night I was involved in my first ever fender bender…in which I actually bent MY fender pretty bad. Yes, the fender in our NEW car. Ugh. While insurance will handle the repairs, it has been a hassle and an emotional roller coaster for me…feeling bad and dumb – it was 100% my fault…feeling anxious that I didn’t provide the other party the right information…feeling relieved that the claim had been filed and things were going to be repaired…feeling angry that the other party is trying to claim injuries, when our altercation was more of a push…not even a bump…frustrated that I got myself in this mess…there is a definite negative air about us all the time, it seems.
But – I have to stop myself from getting too upset about it all and try to take things in stride. Yes, it STINKS that I have to give up some of my salary…but I’d MUCH rather have my job – it is far more valuable than just the dollars in my paycheck. Yes, it STINKS that my new car has a big wrinkle in the fender and needs to be fixed…but it will be fixed and thankfully we have good insurance to take care of us. It would be easy to get down, and stay there…to let myself crumple underneath the weight of surmounting difficulties and negative situations. But I won’t let that happen…I just can’t. I can’t look around and feel as pitiful as I want to – there are just too many good things to let the bad overshadow them.
Matt and I talked the other night about all the negativity surrounding work and the uncertain economy…and we both agreed that ultimately all we can do is try and trust that we will be provided for. We have been MORE than provided for in the past…and it’s not because of anything we’ve done – we give the entire acknowledgement to God. He has provided for us time and time and time and time again – it simply cannot be refuted, cannot be ignored, cannot be any other possibility. We have been blessed – and we can take that reassurance with us each day as we prepare for whatever comes our way. I want to breathe it in each morning, letting it sweep through and calm my frazzled mind and anxious heart. I know there are so many people right now struggling with their own uncertain futures, my own family included as my Dad searches for a new job – and I offer up prayers. Prayers for guidance, for peace, for all the needs to be met.
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