Don’t Worry

Matthew 6:25 (Jesus said,) “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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

I have prided myself on the fact that I am a planner. There’s not a lot of need for worry when you can make a good plan and execute it. The kids need to be fed, driven to activities and have their homework done by 8pm… no problem, I have a plan. The bills need to be paid, groceries purchased, gas put in the car and everyone needs a haircut… no problem, I have a plan. Music needs to be learned, meetings need to happen and emails need to be answered… no problem, I have a plan.

So what happens when my plan gets messed up?

As I’m writing this, I’m currently confined to my house. Having been diagnosed with pneumonia last week and been told to stay home, my plans are completely shot. Who is going to cook supper? How will the kids get to their activities? How many days will the laundry pile up? How am I going to get ready for classes? How am I going to teach? What if a sub does my job so well that I don’t need to come back? What if I’m gone so long that my paycheck is so low that we don’t have enough money to put gas in the car?

See what just happened there? I started to worry.

What if instead of all those worries, I just gave it up to God and trusted. What if I trusted Him enough to plant me in this time of solitude and rest knowing that’s what I need. What if I trusted that God has a plan and it’s better than mine?

Well, then I wouldn’t need to worry.

Dear God, Help me to trust you completely. Help me to remember to seek you first and you will give me what I need. Take care of my worries, wipe them away by showing me how many times you have been faithful to me. Never let me forget that your Son is the most precious thing that’s been given to me and because of Him there is no need to worry.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

This devotion is written by Julie Anderson.

If you would like to serve as a member of the Sheridan Lutheran Writing Team and help to write devotions based on the text for the weekend, contact Amy Wagner.

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