Do not worry about tomorrow…
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So much has happened since last we chatted, but thanks to recency bias, worry and anxiety about tomorrow is the topic for today. I received some heartbreaking news that confirmed my worst fears of a friend whose young daughter has been diagnosed as terminal. Those are words no parent is ever ready to hear. I also don’t believe there are many words that can provide comfort or break through the weight of those words knowing that time is limited- all I could say was to hold her close and to build those memories and stories that will always keep her alive in your hearts. It didn’t seem enough and so I knelt in prayer and have continued to pray. I have not given up hope nor am I resigned to what doctors on this earth say as the final answer-I have seen that overcome too many times. So, I pray, and pray some more and will continue to be here and maybe bring a smile to her face a time or two with her favorite stuffed animals.
This morning, I had the chance to teach one of our Sunday School classes. In typical form, my teaching plan went out the window as we started talking. Our verses were Matthew 6:24-34 and the verse most familiar to many was “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own” (Matthew 6:34, NIV). We discussed how God provides and being anxious or worried about tomorrow is “non-productive” time as aptly defined by one of our members. And as I mentioned in the last paragraph, time is precious. How we choose to spend it, whether we worry about tomorrow, or live in today capturing every moment, is up to us. When one of our members shared about being worried or anxious about death, or if heaven is real, and what happens at the end- he asked me if I worried about these things. I calmly said I do not. I will share there are about 30+ years that separate us and I am in a different phase in life, but my answer was not because of our age difference. I faced my death as I rested my head on my arms on that mountain knowing that when I closed my eyes, I would not make it home. In that moment, I was at peace. The only thing I worried about was my kids-I hated what my departure would do to them, how it would cause them pain. And the inexplicable peace that came over me showing me that they would not be alone came from God and God alone. God has us, he blesses us when we mourn and provides us comfort. He blesses when we are “pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:4-8). What better reminder than the Beatitudes to remind us that we are Blessed! As I have said time and again, we know the ending to the story, and we win. We are victors. Our reward is not here on this earth, but in heaven so we are to rejoice and be glad (Matthew 5:12).
Today, I pray that you not be anxious about tomorrow. That you, instead, take the energy you would spend on worry to take action and live a Christlike life. Go do something good for someone, pick up the phone and call a friend you feel may need to hear your voice or vice versa. Send a handwritten note or card…and worry not about tomorrow.
