Do Not be Anxious
We all face dreaded, uncomfortable, and hard things in life that we wish we didn't have to face.
We face them every day, sometimes some days are harder than others.
For me, it was yesterday.
Yep, the dreaded trip to the DMV.
There are generally two categories to fall into when it comes to the DMV and getting a driver's license.
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The easy-going, confident, and experienced driver.
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The nervous, nauseous, and over-thinking driver.
I fall into the latter of these two.
For weeks leading up to the appointment, dread churned in my gut and troubled my mind. I tried my best not to overthink it, but it was no use. Overthinking is what I do best.
But in the midst of my secret anxieties and worrisome fears, God spoke to me from the book of Matthew in my daily reading early last week.
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly;y Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, Oh you of little faith?
Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink, or 'What shall we wear?'
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34
Do not be anxious.
This, I know, is easier said than done.
In today's time and age, so many things are trying to reach our attention and so many things through which the devil makes us anxious.
Everywhere you turn, there is either someone struggling with anxiety and worry, or you are facing it square in the face yourself.
We carry the baggage of yesterday as we try also to hold the worry of the uncertain and
un-foreseeable future ahead- allowing the worry to steal the hope and possibilities of the present day.
WW2 survivor and heroine Corrie ten Boom said this concerning worry-
"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."
Worry is toxic.
Worry is a thief.
Worry is time-consuming.
But most of all, Worry is needless. Unnecessary.
Jesus tells us, "Have no fear, for I have overcome the world".
We were also told to "Cast all our cares on him, for he cares".
So why then, knowing this, do we often find ourselves falling into the trap of worry and floundering in the spiral of anxiety?
Because this world is a fallen place and it gives us a constant need to worry about Something. But friend, worry will not overcome the giants in your life, and no amount of anxiety can or ever will be able to carry you over that mountain you are facing.
But Jesus can.
And he will.
Just do not be anxious.
