Matthew 6:25–34

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

I thought I had left my problems at home as I set off for a two-day retreat, but somehow they snuck into the passenger seat, harassing my thoughts and fuelling my worries. “So much for my anticipated timeout of soul rest and peace,” I thought. But as I prayed, God’s Word came to mind: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (MATTHEW 6:34). “That’s it!” I realised. I was worried about what might happen in the future, and it was ruining God’s promised peace for the present.

Jesus addresses worry about provision, urging us to trust our “heavenly Father” to provide what He knows we need (VV. 25–26, 32). He reminds us that worry achieves nothing (V. 27), apart from tense bodies, negative thoughts and emotional stress. He also warns of worrying about problems that might happen in the future, distracting us from pursuing God’s will today. God knows about “tomorrow’s” problems, so we can trust Him to help us deal with them as and when they occur (V. 34). Jesus addressed our worries because they conflict with faith: our reliance on God’s tender care and power. If our concerns materialise, we will be able to face them with God’s help in that moment. But for now, we focus on God’s presence, helping us with the concerns of “today”.

How does thanking Jesus for God’s promise to provide for you alleviate your worry? Which worries that do not affect you today can you leave with Jesus?

Thank you, heavenly Father, for promising to provide what I need, and to help me in trouble. Intentionally, I renew my trust in Your loving care today.