I’ve been guilty of doing something lately that the bible says not to do.

There’s a lot going on in our family that I cannot talk about yet, but it’s difficult and painful stuff and I’ve been worrying about what’s going to happen with all of it.

Worrying about what the future looks like.

Worrying about what we could do to “fix” our situation.

Worrying.

Then this morning, I read this verse and felt so convicted:

Matthew 6:34: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Guilty.

You see…I am a planner. I am organized. I like to have all my ducks in a row. So when unexpected things happen, or difficult trials arise, or complex problems can’t be solved, I don’t do well. I obsess over every piece of the puzzle, frantically trying to make it all fit together.

But I am learning that there is a difference between planning for tomorrow and worrying about it.

And sometime last week, I crossed over the line.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us 4 different times not to worry, and he reassures us that our Heavenly Father will meet all of our needs. Then he asks a poignant question in verse 30, “And if God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

So little faith.

Worrying is a faith issue.

I’d rather believe it’s a mark of a super conscientious and over-prepared planner.

So I try to justify my worry a hundred different ways:

“I’m so nervous.”

“I’m just concerned.”

“I’m really stressed.”

But calling it by other names doesn’t fool God. He sees my situation and my heart (and my worry) and he wants me to trust him.

Trust that he will provide what I need to live each day.

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.

He will provide enough mercy for today’s troubles today. And tomorrow he will provide the mercies I need for tomorrow’s troubles. My worry is a sign that I do not trust that God’s mercies for the future will be there to sustain me in the future.

Therefore, if I have worry, it means I need to trust him more.

Day by day, I must choose to trust.

Trust that he holds all the days of my life.

Trust him enough to hand over my worries about the future.

Trust his promises to carry me each and every day.

Trust his mercies.

Dear Friends, do you ever feel weighed down by worry like I do? Are you carrying the heavy burden of tomorrow’s troubles? Are you borrowing trouble that God never meant for you to carry with today’s allotment of strength? I have felt that way for a week and it’s crushing. But I want to trust him instead, so I am praying this prayer today and I invite you to join me.

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for who you are and all that you are. Thank you that I can trust you to provide all that I need all the days of my life. Thank you for your mercies that are new everyday. Thank you for promising to take care of me. Please forgive my lack of trust in you. I confess that I have been worrying about my circumstances instead of laying them at your feet and trusting you to help me. Father, I affirm my trust in your perfect love and provision, and ask that you would increase my faith. Your will be done in my life.

Amen.

 

These are the verses that I am claiming and clinging to this week:

Psalm 33:2-22:

“We put our hope in the Lord.

He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,

for our hope is in you alone.”

 

Psalm 34:8-10:

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!

Fear the Lord, you his godly people,

for those who trust him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

 

As always, I love hearing from you. If this blog finds you worried, send me a message or comment below and I will get on my knees for you. Let’s do this faith journey together.