Matthew 6:25-34
“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 than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendorwas dressed like one of these. 30 If 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—you of little faith? 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. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I do not know about you…but for me…worry can be a very convincing pastime when you are faced with a challenging situation. Surely not an appropriate one…but it is like our mind’s autopilot sets our worry meter to overactive and it gets stuck!
Last week, I needed a routine CT scan with contrast. I have an allergy to iodine so my doctor gave me steroids and benedryl to take ahead of time. I started taking the oral contrast and developed an allergic response. It was immediately stopped and typical protocol was followed after such a reaction. I was safe; yet my worry meter kept going full speed ahead.
I love these verses because they are a great source of comfort and practical advice. Whether you are worrying because you are feeling inadequate due to your disability or perhaps you do not have enough money or maybe like me you had an unexpected medical issue arise. Whatever the circumstance…God has given us an excellent way to get back to a sense of peace.
When I feel worry start to creep in, I start thinking about nature and how God takes care of all his creatures. Recently we had straight line winds come through and I was super scared. I prayed and then I thought about the birds outside. God will take care of all of us in the best way possible.
I love thinking about how beautiful wild flowers are together in the meadow. They do not need a fashion consultant to take people’s breath away. Here in Vermont the foliage in the fall is awe inspiring. This gives me so much comfort to know that God has my needs taken care of. If he can paint such beauty through leaves which are about to fall off the trees and discinigrate. He can certainly take care of me!
It is my prayer that if you struggle with worry that you can find solace in these verses. Remember God knows us inside out and he will keep us safe.