One of my all-time scriptures for worry and stress is Matthew 6:34
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (NRSV)

This shows us how we should be living our lives, by taking it one step at time. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own”. We can’t predict the future and in a couple verses back, Jesus says to his disciples:

“And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life” (Matthews 6:27).

Us worrying about the future, cannot help us determine the future but only create problems that never really existed. Jesus is telling his disciples that worry does not benefit us or do anything to change our lives. Only God can see things ahead of time, that’s why we trust in Him and await His instructions. He will be the one to lead us, guide, lift us, be a light when there is darkness, create a way when there is no way, give us a word or a revelation.

The second half of this verse says “Today’s troubles is enough for today”. Each day has its own troubles, struggles, battles, ups and down, the known and unknown and everything in between. But all we can do is trust God and follow his directions. It’s dangerous to live in a place of anticipation, where you are always thinking about “what’s going to happen next” and miss out on “what’s happening now”. You’re focused more on what the future holds than to face today. And when you look back, you realize that you spent your whole time worrying.

As I’m writing this now, today is the last day of this particular month for this particular year. I don’t say this to scare you but to make you realize, as each day comes – it’s another day that the Lord has made! And for each day that God has graced us with, there are things that are on His heart for us to carry out. God is always speaking, but we will never know if we’re constantly jumping from one place to the other away from the position He wants us in.

I am going to be so transparent right now, and I can honestly say that one of the major themes that was current in 2016 was worry. More than ¾ of it was spent worrying – worrying about how my education was going to pan out, worrying if people liked me, worrying about my future, worrying about my calling, worrying about the fact that I was worrying. I was anxious all the time, I couldn’t sleep and I was up all night.

What did I gain from it – nothing. And it got to a point where I said to myself. I can’t keep living like this and this was weakening my spirit. I would worry and feel dry, come to the Father and He would fill me up only for me to worry about something else and feel empty again.

I finally surrendered and you might be reading this and you are carrying worries, burdens, things that you have no control over and you’re always ruminating over your problems over and over again like a broken replay button without an option to pause. Can I encourage you to actually surrender your situation to God!

Matthews 11:28-30 says:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We all worry, that is inevitable but it does not mean we should stay in that worry but rather cast it to God. 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast your cares to him for he cares”.

Jesus even told his disciples that if they are worried about food, “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26)

Continue seeking God and He will provide for you. You will not need to stress for everything that you need is in Him.

Activity: Divide your spare page into half and draw a line. Above one column write ‘worries’ and begin to list down all your fears, worries and anything that keeps you up at night. In the second column write ‘surrendered to God’ and list down the moments and situations where you surrendered that problem or prayer request to God.

If you notice that your list of worries is longer than the list of things surrendered. You need to start surrendering. If you notice that it is the opposite, you still need to surrender.

Even the little things like “what am I going to eat today?” is not insignificant in the eyes of our Father. The goal is to have everything that troubles you on God’s side and have nothing on your side.  I’m not saying that you are incapable of handling anything but I am encouraging you to give it to the One who can hold your problems, but also carry you in His hands.

Something I learned in year 8: “If God is the co-pilot, switch seats now” (author unknown)

Here’s a photo of how to set out your page:

I hope this devotion blessed you and this activity gave you a bit of an insight as to where your trust lies in.

Share with a loved one and surrender it all to God. He cares for you!

Rest. Don’t Stress. Most of all, you are blessed!

Love Susan xoxo