Trusting God with What’s to Come
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
As I write this, I am just a few short weeks from summer vacation, but the stress of finals, graduation, and a million other things weigh on my mind. You might be in the same boat as you finish up your summer and start thinking about a new school year.
While I tend to be a worrier and forward thinker, Matthew 6 always pulls me back into the present moment. Jesus has just been telling his followers not to worry about what they will eat and what they will wear, and ends this discussion by telling them not to worry about tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but this is hard for me!
Jesus wants us to stay rooted in the present because He doesn’t want us to miss the good He’s up to here, today, in this very moment in our very present lives.
I love the way The Message version of Luke 12:29-32 communicates Jesus’s heart for us:
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”
God knows that when we ruminate with anxiety over our future plans, we miss the good things He is up to in our present moment. While it’s good to be organized and have a plan, if we spend so much time worrying we’re going to miss what is coming tomorrow, the sad truth is that we’re actually missing today.
So how do we stop our minds from spinning with anxiety about what’s to come? 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” When we find ourselves spiraling, worrying about our future, we stop, take a breath, and ask God to help us to trust him. If you need, you can steal my prayer below:
God, I find my mind is running and my heart is anxious about everything I have to do and what is going to happen in the future. I know you tell me not to worry, but I need your help. Help me to stay rooted in today, trusting that you hold tomorrow and will help me when it gets here. Help me to trust that you love me and care for me, that I don’t have to worry or hustle to get because you provide for my every need. Thank you for being a loving Father and for taking care of me. Thank you for the gift of today.
May you find peace in the gift of today and may your heart remember how deeply God loves and cares for you.