Things that we don’t control

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Before I retired I had a habit that was as regular as the sunrise. As soon as dinner was finished on Sunday night, I realized that the weekend was essentially over and I started thinking about the week to come. I'm not a checklist person, and this exercise rarely produced anything on paper. I just rehearsed the meetings I knew were coming up, situations I needed to handle, and other significant events I was expecting, both professionally and personally.

I believe it is always a good thing to plan for contingencies and to use resources wisely. It was inevitable, however, that I often went beyond contemplation and planning and into worry.

There are many dictionary definitions for worry. I like the Stoic definition: "a negative mental state arising from focusing on things outside of one's control."

Our scripture today comes from Jesus' Sermon On the Mount, which we find in the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. It is the third time in this passage that he tells his disciples not to worry, The previous times were meant to encourage them not to worry about daily needs.  He uses the example of nature to illustrate that God knows our needs and stands ready to provide. 

In verse 34 Jesus takes a small turn and urges his disciples (and us) to not worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow is out of our control. He wants us to know that we should live life in the present, because that is how God provides: In his "model prayer," just a few verses before he says to pray, "Give us today our daily bread;" When the nation of Israel was wandering in the desert, he provided bread for them on a daily basis.

I don't know about you, but I find that to be easier to say than to do. Humans are prone to worrying, and it takes incredible strength not to. Fortunately for us, we have access to the most incredible strength there is - God's strength.

How do we access God's strength?

Start by praying and asking for it: Philippians chapter 4, verse 6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

What happens when we do that? Verse 7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Jesus never taught that we would not have trouble. Not worrying about tomorrow does not mean to live frivolously or not think about or plan for the future. He simply tells us that we should trust God every day, and if we do that, tomorrow will take care of itself.

Prayer:

Father, thank you that you know our needs, our concerns, and our desires. Forgive us for trying to take control of those things from you by worrying. Always remind us that you are in control, no matter what. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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