“Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? … Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:27, 34
I can’t ever recall a time when in the middle of a stressful season I said to a friend, “I feel so much better this morning; thank goodness I was up worrying all night.” I’m not sure why we often default to worrying when we know it can’t achieve a single thing. I suppose worrying makes us feel like we’re getting ahead of a possible pain, fallout, or loss we fear is coming down the pike. We know getting out in front won’t stop whatever we’re worrying about from hitting us, but at least we won’t be ambushed by it. At best, worry is a lousy form of preparation and usually a terrible waste of energy since half the time the stuff we worry about never happens anyway.
This is what Jesus is detailing for us in these verses. Worrying can’t lengthen our lives by even a moment (or add an inch to our height, which I could have used while playing basketball in high school). And there’s no need for us to stew about what troubles might come tomorrow because we have enough to concern ourselves with today. Worrying about what may or may not happen in the future only snatches the precious moments we have right now, the only moments we’re assured of. If we prayerfully and responsibly deal with today’s troubles, instead of squandering the time fretting about tomorrow’s, we might actually be able to keep certain ones from snowballing into yet another day.
Jesus is offering us valuable, commonsense truths that stand on their own, but how much more meaningful when we remember who it is speaking them! That the Son of God Himself is the One relieving us of worry transforms His words from mere wisdom statements to life-changing kingdom of heaven realities because of His presence in our lives. We all know that living a life flooded with worry is awful and fruitless, but much of the time we can’t help it. What we need is to be rescued from it. That rescue is what so much of Jesus’s Sermon is about. Because the presence of Christ has infiltrated our world, He not only teaches us how but also empowers us to live free of debilitating anxiety.
What is keeping you up at night? Where have your resources fallen short of what you need? Who is threatening your possessions? I could tell you, Don’t worry because that’s inadequate and not very smart, but that wouldn’t help you. What is needed are Jesus’s anchoring truths about how the hurting are the flourishing ones because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them and how your heavenly Father knows what you need and is not caught off guard by your concerns. You don’t have to get out in front of what might happen because He’s already there.
Worry doesn’t get to have a bedroom in the Father’s house where daily bread is provided and needs tended. Worry is an outsider in a world where God’s people are infinitely more looked after than birds who can’t meal-plan yet are fed, where flowers that can’t slip into dresses or tuxedos are adorned in glory. And at the bottom of all this, we need not worry because Jesus is present among us. He is with us. He is with you. And the inexhaustible riches of His glory are present to meet your needs.
Heavenly Father, you feed the birds and clothe the flowers, and still I am much more valuable to You. Relieve me from worrying, not only because it’s tiresome and fruitless but because it’s needless in Your presence. Supply me with Your provision, help me remember You are eager to meet my needs, and generously give me Yourself. Let me go throughout my day, not oblivious to my real concerns but anxious to place them in Your care.
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Over the past year I’ve had stretches where I haven’t readily felt my faith. God hasn’t felt as near as He often does. I’ve endured a significant disappointment and wondered where God is; Is He still working when I can’t see or feel Him? But notice my emphasis on feeling, on my senses. If God is only faithful when we can feel Him, then we as humans have a problem. Thankfully, God’s goodness doesn’t rise or fall on how we feel about Him. His goodness is based on who He is. Here are three things that have helped me the past year.
Go Back to What Is True, Not What You Feel Is True
This past weekend I spoke at a church in California. I’m always grateful to teach God’s Word, but this weekend I needed it. I needed to be reminded of who God is. I was teaching on the power that pours forth from God’s holiness. When the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, they exclaimed, “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). God is unlike all others, and He never stops working, even when we don’t feel it. Go back to Scripture. Give your feelings and emotions to God, and ask Him to remind you of what is true about Him.
When Things Are Out of Your Control, They’re Not Out of God’s
One of the truths I’ve held onto this past year is God is in control. This doesn’t mean that heartbreak doesn’t happen, or hardship won’t come our way, but it does mean He is sovereign over all. Some really important things are currently out of my control, so what a balm to my soul Colossians 1:16-17 has been: “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” All things are held together by Him. What are you afraid of? What is causing you anxiety? Take it to His loving care.
Choose Gratitude
Gratitude does not come easy to me but it’s a spiritual discipline I’ve been practicing this year. When we are experiencing various trials, and we don’t know what the future holds, we can look around at the many good things God has blessed us with. We can thank Him for these many blessings and turn our gratitude to worship. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
These are a few of the things I’ve been going back to. I hope they help you in whatever season you find yourself in.
Please join me for this month’s video devotional on what to do when we can’t see or feel God. If you’re in that place, I hope it will be an encouragement to you that the Israelites were there too. Sometimes it’s a blessing to be reminded that we’re not the first ones to feel as though God’s activity has vanished from in front of us. But this doesn’t mean He’s not working or with you. Watch the video below to find out more.
This month I’m bringing you some encouragement on identity straight from a village in the Amazon. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt, Moses responded like many of us would, “Who Am I?” he said asked. In other words, I’m a shepherd and Egyptians hate shepherds, I was driven out of Egypt, I don’t speak well, etc. Do you want to know how God responded to Moses? His answer was life-changing though not what we might expect. Check out the video to find out.
It’s been a busy few months for me, and I’m sure it’s been the same for you. May is packed with Mother’s Day, graduations, end-of-year school activities, and of course spring cleaning and outside chores. I hope I’m not stressing anyone out.
To add to the busyness, last week I had the joy of graduating from Denver Seminary after five-plus years working on my MA in Biblical and Theological Studies. This endeavor has been one of the most meaningful of my life. My prayer is that all I’ve learned about God and His Word will flow through my Bible studies and speaking in ways that will help us all know Jesus more deeply.
In addition, for anyone walking through a difficult season, I wanted to share some brief thoughts on suffering. How to suffer well, and how to experience Christ in the middle of it. I hope the following words will be a blessing to you.
With Easter being particularly late this year, I’m more aware of its ties to Spring. New life is budding, colors are bursting, the unique color of spring-green is sprouting all around us. But what is going on in our hearts? What kind of creative actdoes God want to do within us?
I’ve recorded a short devotional on John 9:6, a rather peculiar verse. When we dig beneath the dirt (pun intended), we see in this text Jesus’s allusion to a BRAND NEW WORK. Because sometimes we don’t need a redo, a refresh, or a restoration — we need Christ to work something new in us. Easter, here we come!
I recorded a short Lenten devotion for you to reflect on. In Luke 24:5, the angel of the Lord asks the women at the empty tomb, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” This always makes me think about where I’m looking for life. I hope these thoughts set your expectations on Jesus no matter what you’re walking through this spring.
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Are you in a season of waiting? An in-between time? I don’t know anyone who relishes the time between a promise given and the proper time for the promise fulfilled, yet what God does in our lives and the lives of others can be some of the most meaningful work He accomplishes. I hope you’ll find encouragement in this season as God prepares you for what He has prepared you for!
Hear insight from Kelly about prioritizing new year goals and your knowing God. John 11 is where Kelly speaks to the reaction of Jesus, Martha and Mary in light of this wisdom about cultivating our relationship with God over what we do for Him.
