Anxiety / Stay in today

What did Jesus mean

Worrying won’t help.

Where did Jesus say this

Matthew 6:25-34 — “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

What Jesus did not mean

Jesus didn’t mean that God will feed you, clothe you, and house you, as long as you stop worrying.

While that’s a nice thought, that’s all it is. Just a nice thought.

Instead, he’s saying (and not saying) a few things here.

1. Don’t be anxious about “stuff.” None of it matters more than what’s in your heart.

He’s not saying food and clothing don’t matter. He’s saying the constant seeking of these items is not what life is about, so stop worrying about it.

2. Being anxious doesn’t help. Life is hard and worrying will only make it harder.

He’s not saying you shouldn’t worry. He’s just saying it doesn’t help the situation. Handle what you need to handle, without being torn into a million different pieces by anxiety.

3. God loves you and cares for you just as he cares for everything else. If you love him back, the basics will be handled.

He’s not saying God will hand-deliver Taco Bell to you. He’s saying that when you live in the kingdom of God, you will have your priorities straight, and you will need less “stuff.” And when you live in the kingdom of God, you will have your community right, and you can find a way to get the “stuff” you actually need.

Where to start

When you feel anxiety, notice it, name it, and ask Jesus for guidance. Let him help you rearrange your priorities, so you can think more clearly and see what’s in front of you right now (not tomorrow or weeks down the road).

Benefits

Anxiety is fog. Get it out of the way, and you can see where you’re at and where you’re going.