In case you didn’t know…
I have a favorite scripture.
Well, chapter, actually. Matthew 6 in the Christian Bible is my go-to Christianity 101 resource. For me, it’s a powerhouse of truth bombs, trust bombs and just down right honest tidbits about what it’s like to truly live as a Christ follower.
I love it. (If you haven’t figured that out.) In fact, I love it so much that I’ve written a devotional book entirely dedicated to this chapter. (But, I’ll bug you about that in another post!)
One scripture in Matthew 6 is truly sticking out to me right now;
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:34 NRSV
And, I was reminded of it again when I saw this rose today. Every morning when I wake, I pull back the drapes in my bedroom to offer in the sun and get a sneak peak on the day.
And, today I saw this.
A beautiful rose in October. Now, mind you, I know nothing about roses besides they like coffee.
Or, is it tea?
And, I certainly don’t know what their growing season is like.
But, he’s here (Or, she.), living it’s best life in my front yard.
And, I’ve been too busy to notice.
Too busy with doctor’s appointments and therapy sessions. Too busy with work, writing, and running errands.
Too busy to “stop and smell the roses.”
Why?
Because I’m too busy worrying.
About everything.
And, God doesn’t want me to.
In today’s focus scripture, Jesus tells us not a command, but a few simply stated facts. Today has enough troubles of it’s own, so why worry about tomorrow?
One thing about this scripture does bother me, to be honest. Does this mean I need to worry my little heart out about today?
It can’t mean that right?
No, it doesn’t.
In fact, Jesus gives us several lessons on why worrying isn’t worth it. And, I want to share them with you here.
And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
Matthew 6:27 NRSV
Another version words it a little differently:
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:27 KJV
So, if worrying doesn’t add an hour to your life, and it doesn’t add “a cubit to your stature,” what’s the point? Right?
I know. I know. But, worrying is so easy. When I tell others about situations that are going on or I am headed to the doctor, it seems commonplace to worry. And, accepted. In fact, it seems that if I don’t worry, it freaks people out and they start saying things to make me worry!
But, God wants something different for us.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 6:31-32 NIV
He knows. He knows everything, Everything I need before even I know I need it. In fact, He knew all my wants and needs before I was even born.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139: 16 NIV
God knew everything I would be or need long before I was born. Or, as my mother likes to say, “A twinkle in your mama’s eye.” You are uniquely and wonderfully made. And, God knows everything about you. He knows my and your every need. He also knew we were predisposed to worry, so He gave us these powerful truth bombs so we could know how to navigate these rose bushes of existence — His way of helping us avoid the thorns.
Today, I will trust Him. I will give my worries to Him because His Word says I don’t have to worry about worrying.
And, I’m going to go and smell some roses.
Question: When was it hard for you to have trust in God because other’s made you feel you had to worry? Let me know in the comments below! And, if you don’t want to give details, just share “Been there.” so I know I’m not in this alone.
Maybe it comes with age but I’m not a worrier. A dear old saint once told me, “If God can’t handle it, I certainly can’t.” Well, God has, is, and will handle “it”. I may not always like the how or how long, but I know He will do what is best for me. Worry just causes wrinkles and I have enough of those without adding more.
You are a breath of fresh air. Thank so much for your wisdom and for visiting my site. Your comment gave me relief from worry. I’m loving that quote!
I’m thankful it brought you some peace. I know Priscilla would be glad I shared it.
To worry, presupposes fixation, which leaves no place for anything, but the dilemma… and if one’s mind is so full, then where is God…?
God does not expect you to sit back, and expect the problem to be rectified… one MUST do all that one can do to fix it, WHILE KNOWING you are not alone…
Not worrying, does not mean putting it out of one’s mind…
One must never become lost in anything, or anywhere… where God is absent…
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I never thought of it this way–that worry is a distraction from God. Because what takes your mind and focus away from God is not OF God.
There is poignant truth in the knowledge that God is a jealous God… (Exodus 20:3-5 NRSV) thus, anything that supplants God, as become a god (even if built in the mind)… therefore one must read, and try one’s best to understand everything that is attributed to God outside of the box, for God is not in a box… anyone’s box…!!!
Let us consider the first verse you posited…
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34 NRSV)
Here, one reads about worry, and one reads about trouble… one that should NOT be considered… and one that SHOULD be considered… it was a rose that brought this verse to mind, so let us think of a farmer for example… the farmer must not worry about tomorrow, for he/she has enough trouble today… but what is the trouble he/she has today…?
Today, his/her trouble is to increase the crop, and prepare the means to store it… tomorrow does not exist… it is ephemeral… only in the mind of the farmer for awhile… created by the farmer who as become a god creating his/her own circumstances…
Today is not ephemeral, it is a reality where God exist… and will aid the farmer in today’s trouble…
A byproduct of this, is that tomorrow will also be looked after, for tomorrow is not EPHEMERAL to God… who knows what the farmer will need… and also when he/she gets there, “will have enough trouble for that day.”
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I need to,work on this. Your words ring so true. I can worry but far too often not offer them up. Prayers focus on other matters.
Don’t we all? I know for me anyway! I have to hold tight to these scriptures and focus on talking with God and not giving life to my worry.
I believe God made me and gave me sufficient wisdom so I can take care of things when I worry about things, I try to take care by myself and if it’s not as expected that’s on me. God helps them who helps themself. He is everywhere with me 🙏 I see hard times and I learn this. Thank you dear your post helps me a lot 🤗 and Thank you so much following Thought Fountain 🤗🤗
Thank you so much for stopping by! God IS everywhere and in all things. Without Him, I am nothing. I am so thankful for His guidance, kindness and love. 💖