Day 257 - When You’re Worried

Emily Green

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” - Matthew 6:25-34 NLT

In Matthew 6, Jesus is talking to a crowd about worry. To alleviate their worried thoughts, He points them to look at different things in nature. God provides for the birds and animals. God provides for the plants. If God ensures that the ecosystem of the earth and universe has all it needs, what makes us think that God wouldn’t provide for us?

Matthew 6:25-34 is a recentering passage of Scripture. As we discussed when we talked about anxiety, when we worry about something, we focus on what’s concerning us. When we focus on one thing, everything else gets blurry.

When we worry, we can’t see or think clearly. This is why it’s essential to recenter our attention on God. When we focus on God and His provision, we won’t be able to see our problems. Jesus tells us to “seek first the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and [God] will give [us] everything [we] need” (Matthew 6:33). When we’re busy seeking the Kingdom, we won’t have time to focus on our problems!



Next Steps

  • Think about it: What’s worrying me? Why?

  • Action Step: When you feel worried, read Matthew 6:25-34. Let the Word of God remind you that God will meet all your needs!