It has been nearly 2 years since we moved our family to Fort Worth for Seminary. As I look back I remember questions and conversations that were had over and over again. Constantly we were asked how we would pay our bills? Where we would live? How would we survive? And every time we had those conversations we would give the same textbook answers.
“We would be fine. If this is where God is leading us then He will provide for us. Isn’t that what the Bible says?
It sounded good and like things were completely under control. However, it was in the privacy of my own heart that I was worried. I was asking myself all those same questions over and over again. Night after night I would lay in bed wide awake wondering how we were going to get by. All those wonderful, positive answers I had given to people just hours before were long gone. Anxiety was quickly becoming my best friend.
Life is like that isn’t it? Full of anxieties and worries around every turn. Worrying, especially for women, is as natural as breathing on most days. Our focus is distorted.
Jesus, in Matthew chapter 6:25-34, tells us that we aren’t to be worrying about the day to day needs.
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Next, Jesus paints a picture of nature and how well God takes care of his creation. He points out that the birds of the air are fed with no effort of their own. The flowers and the grass are clothed in brilliance without ever having to work for their beauty.
26 “Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add a single cubit to his height[a] by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith?”
Isn’t it amazing to see how much God really does provide? All throughout the Bible we see how God, even in the midst of our sin, is providing for our basic needs. Even when the Israelites were complaining in the desert God gave them food. Even after Adam and Eve made that first fateful decision to disobey God He took the time to hand stitch together clothing for them.
Up there in verse 25 Jesus says “Don’t worry about your life.” Verse 31- 32 follows that up with a reminder that God already knows what we need.
31 “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
You see, those that don’t know Him find themselves seeking after the things that God already knows we need. Those that don’t have a relationship with Christ are trying to drive their own bus. They are trying to have control over something that isn’t theirs to control. God knows what we need if we will just let Him provide.
So, if we aren’t supposed to be worrying about these things, then what are we to be doing with our time?
Verses 33 answer that question for us:
33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
Seek FIRST the kingdom of God.
He doesn’t say to seek the kingdom when the “to do” list is finished, or when you grab a minute between status updates.
He wants us to seek him first. Right now.
And ALL these things will be provided to you.
The food, the shelter, the clothing. All the things that are necessities for daily life will be provided. If God provided for all of his creation, even the ones that don’t have the ability for personal relationship and communication, won’t He provide for you too?
This doesn’t mean we will have the biggest house, the nicest car, or be able to eat at every fine dining restaurant in the neighborhood. But it does mean that we will get by from day to day.
Jesus ends this section with this reminder:
34 “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Each day has its own problems. By worrying about what may or may not happen tomorrow our focus is taken off of God. Take the time to focus on Him. Seek His kingdom and all his righteousness and you just may see that things really aren’t as bad as we would like to make them out to be.
In the end God loves us. And he wants to provide for us. Just as a parent wants to provide for their children. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the wheel, but when you do, and allow Him to drive the blessings will be so much better than even you can imagine.
Are you caught up in worrying about your tomorrows instead of letting God be in control? If so, how can you strive to seek His kingdom first and allow God to provide the things you need?
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A Wise Woman in Progress 