weary from worry? (Day 2)

Do you ever worry about your future?

Maybe an uncertainty with your job or next big life move. Maybe a fear over your finances, your family or maybe your health. Maybe you lie awake at night and wonder if your dreams will ever happen or your prayers will ever be answered.

I woke up this morning and worry greeted me. Imagine that - a brand new day, a full nights sleep and I simply woke up weary.

Weary from worry.

Burdened by countless 'what ifs' and overwhelmed by so many unknowns.

You see, I think about my future a lot. Will I get this job? Will I get married? Will I have children? Will I get good news? Will I..Will I..Will I..?

So many uncertainties and so many questions, leaving me so very weary. Yet Jesus clearly teaches 'do not worry about tomorrow'. That word 'worry' means 'to be divided'.

You see, worry divides.

Worry does not add a single hour to your life. Instead it takes strength intended for today and it divides it amongst tomorrow's potential problems. And when strength is stretched between today and tomorrow, it simply wears thin and you will eventually wear out.

Yes, worry weakens strength.

Strength intended for today.

In Matthew 6, Jesus acknowledges 'each day has enough trouble of its own'. He knows some days will be hard. He knows some days will be difficult. But when Jesus teaches 'do not worry about tomorrow', He simply means this: Don't divide the strength I promise to give you today with tomorrow's fears. Don't deplete yourself of the strength I will give you today by sharing it with tomorrow's uncertainties.

Be encouraged. Allow His strength to carry you through today. And when tomorrow comes, He promises to give you enough strength to carry you through that day too.

Who needs God's undivided strength today?

'Look at the birds of the air; they do not reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?'

Matthew 6:26