Do Not Be Anxious For Tomorrow

 

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 it. 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~

Jesus tells us that we do not have to be anxious for the future. We don't have to worry about what we will eat, or what we will drink, or what we will wear. God is in control. And He cares for us! He will not forsake us. We can trust Him. Instead of worrying about the future and what may come, we can call upon Him. He can be trusted with every area of our lives.

What are you anxious about?

Take it to God in prayer! Choose to trust in Him in that area of your life, and with every area of your life!

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the LORD with ALL our hearts! I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean to trust Him when it's easy, but when life gets hard it's okay to worry and take matters into your own hands. No. It means, even when it gets hard, to trust God fully. 

So, here are some truths to remind yourself when you start to get anxious that will help point you back to trusting in God:

1. Pray! You can cast all your anxieties on God (1 Pt. 5:7, Ps. 55:22). Cry out to Him, pour out your heart. God always hears and listens, and He cares. Which leads us to point number 2:

2. God cares for you! Look up these verses: Romans 5:8, 8:32,38-39, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 Peter 5:7, and 1 John 4:16

God gave up His own Son for you! He loves you unconditionally. He is a gracious and compassionate God. This should encourage you to know that the Creator of the universe knows you, loves you, and has redeemed you (if you are saved)! It doesn't matter what others think or what may happen, the God of the universe cares for you and has saved you, and that is enough!

3. Being anxious will not help anything. "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:27) This verse reminds us that even if there was a reason to be anxious, being anxious will get us no where. It doesn't help resolve the issue or add any amount of time to our life. It only causes us more pain and stress. Plus, later in the passage Jesus reminds us that "tomorrow will be anxious for itself!"

4, We can choose to rejoice in the Lord always! (1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4) Not "rejoice in your circumstances always," but "rejoice in the Lord always!" When we remember who Jesus is and all that He has done for us, we have reason to rejoice, even in the midst of trial! God might use your small action of choosing joy even when you don't feel like it in many mighty ways! Not only will joy strengthen you, but it will be a light to those around you as well! And when we choose joy in the midst of suffering, the world takes notice.

Now, again, that doesn't mean rejoicing in you circumstances. It doesn't mean you have to be happy that your facing this trial, but your thankful that Christ gives you hope, is not absent from you, and is sovereign over it all! (Although James 1:2 tells us that we can count trials as joys because we grow in faith and steadfastness through those times!)

5. Seek what matters most. Instead of being anxious, seek to live for Christ, even if it is hard or costly! It will be so rewarding! So, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness! (Matthew 6:33)

6. Choose to trust the Sovereign King! (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:3-4, 1 Timothy 6:15) You can't always see His purpose in everything, but you can choose to trust that He does have a purpose and a plan. And He has the power to fulfill it!

May these verses and truths from God's word encourage you and strengthen you the next time you start to feel anxious! God can help you grow in this area and overcome your anxious thoughts!

Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself!