How many of us feel like we have nothing to worry about right now? (Wait) I want to see anyone who has their hand up after service because I have to learn your wisdom. In all seriousness, if you have nothing to worry about, I am very happy for you. Let me ask this question now: how many of us feel like we have something to worry about right now? Your worry probably weighs heavy on you right now. Your worry probably has a residence in the front of your mind. Your worry probably is keeping you from sleeping. How many of us have felt like this? One verse from today’s scripture comes to mind when we talk about worry: Matthew 6:34.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.”
This verse has frustrated me from time to time. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow and, in the same verse, lets us know that tomorrow will have its own worries. As a professional worrier, you can’t tell me not to worry and then let me know there will be worries later on. This concept doesn’t work for my brain, and I’d be apt to say that this may not work for you.
Yet though, this verse can bring hope. Don’t worry about tomorrow. This verse reminds me to focus on today. To only focus on the events of one day at a time and let yourself exist in it. We can’t live in tomorrow because we need to be present today. Why? Each day is going to have enough trouble of its own. Today has its issues. Today has its problems. Today comes with its anxieties. If we focus on fixing tomorrow’s problems, we live in that anxiety today. Then our decision-making process gets mixed up because we make choices out of anxiety instead of making choices in peace, calm, and rationale. Then we worry if we made the right choices over decisions that haven’t come yet, and the cycle begins anew. I believe this is why Jesus says that tomorrow will have its own worries. It reinforces the fact that we need to focus on today. Tomorrow has the same problems today has, more or less, but as I said, we can’t live in tomorrow because we need to be present today.
It was funny that this was the verse I would focus on this week. I have this sign in my office with Matthew 6:34 on it. I don’t remember when I got or why I put it there. Yet, it is a constant reminder to come back to the present and look at today, not tomorrow or next week or next month, but today. I also have a note pinned to my mirror at home with this verse and the note, “I will walk through whatever today hands me.”
“Quit worrying so much,” or “You worry too much.” Yeah. My brain works differently, but I believe this worry is something God has used for good. My over-worrying makes sure I don’t say the wrong thing to someone. My over-worrying makes sure that close loved ones are okay in this moment. My over-worrying makes sure that I’ve tried to think about everything (often 2-3 times over). I’m not worrying about anything but worrying about everything. Yet, Jesus reminds me, and you, to worry about today. Jesus is with us today, tomorrow, and forever. Today comes first, and tomorrow is not here yet. May you feel present with Jesus today.
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