BY: MEGAN GILMORE
“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 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 if 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, O 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
I know this was a long passage, but every time I tried to cut it down, I couldn’t. God kept pressing on my heart to present it as a whole. We need to see the entire picture.
Family, friends, work, school, and other responsibilities were overwhelming me. I could feel the anxiety creeping in my body. It grew louder and louder. Amidst it all, I heard a still soft voice — “come to me, come find rest.” I knew who it was…Jesus. Jesus was calling me to come find Him in my anxiety, in my worry.
Have you ever found yourself in that place? You were overwhelmed and unsure of how much more you can handle? Jesus reminds us in Matthew that God is in control. We are created in His image, much more valuable than flowers in a field. Then why do we let the circumstances of the world dictate our lives? He provides daily for the needs of the birds. He will provide for our earthly needs. He is our good heavenly Father, and He knows exactly what we need and when we need it.
If you are feeling the stress, the anxiety, or the overwhelming sense of life, stop and rest in the fact that God is in control. Matthew gave us a full picture of how much God loves us; let go of the anxiety. The flowers continue to grow despite hardships they face. Birds continue to find food and roam the earth. He even cares for grass and other living things that have short life spans. Just stop and think…He loves me more than that. I don’t have to worry. You don't have to worry. He is working it out.
Cast the worries, the fears, and the anxieties onto Jesus. He can handle it. Step into the freedom of God being in control. He is our great provider.