DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

Matthew 6:25-34
25 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field . . . will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The phone bill and VISA statement arrive on the same day that the car breaks down on the highway and the dog food runs out. My bank account balance is at an all-time low, and I wonder how I will ever find the money to afford everything. I throw the mail on the counter and putter around the kitchen, angrily lashing out at God for not taking care of me and providing for my needs.

A few hours later I meet a friend for coffee that I can't afford at the shop down the street. We make small talk for a few minutes until she tells me that she has cancer. We cry together and before too long we part without praying together. I return home and angrily ask God why He would hurt my precious friend. How could He not take care of her? I worry about what she will do, and how long she will live.

I go to church on Sunday out of habit, still very angry and with a bitter attitude. The message is one of hope and assurance that the Father in heaven does know our needs, and He hears our prayers. He remembers the birds and feeds them, and they do not need to be bothered by collecting and storing up food for the winter because He
provides for them. And so, He can provide for us. I confess my sin of bitterness. When I leave, I feel refreshed and forgiven.

In the mailbox on Monday there is a letter from a friend I haven't seen for a while. I sit outside on the porch and open the envelope which reveals a check for enough money to pay the bills, fix the car, and buy some dog food.

I look up from the paper to see a little bird pecking at the lawn. His head jerks up, and out of nowhere, a slimy pink worm wriggles between its beak. The bird lifts its wings and flies off into the sun.

God is in control, and He does provide. Trust in Him today! --Jerusha Dyck (New Brunswick, Canada) Written by a fellow
Soul Journey reader.

DESTINATION POINTS

* Have I recently worried about something that today seems silly?
* How can I remind myself that God has control over my life?

LINKS:
How Much Does God Control?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0109

bottom line: God is holding your future in His hands!

soul journey