“Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”

Good morning and Happy Saturday!!! Hope you have some plans to enjoy your weekend and do something fun and relaxing. My daughter is coming over, and I am so excited to spend a little time with her. Two weeks from today, she will be getting up after her wedding the night before and heading to Mexico for her honeymoon. She is an amazing young woman, and I could not be more proud of who she is…and did I mention I am excited to see her today!!!

I get a break from radiation for a few days, which I will gladly take. One week down and 5 more to go. I took a pill last night to help with the nausea that the chemo creates. It did help! I slept much better and did not spend the night nauseated and restless. I will take that and hope for more nights like that moving forward.

I wake up early, read my bible, journal and think a little. The challenge is, I don’t really think a little, I think a lot!! This is not a new thing, but the context of my thinking is a little different today. Here is one of the many things I was reflecting on this morning. I also want to add, I think about God often, and I have read through the Bible for years and years. I want to be clear! I am in no way trying to convince, condemn or judge anyone. The Bible, faith, a relationship with God, all theses things can be a little complicated. Just like all relationships each of us are usually in a little different place with God. I will always respect and honor wherever you currently are at in your own relationship with God. I don’t expect you to be exactly where I am, but I do like to share some of my walk, reflections and relationship with God. So here it goes this morning.

I was drawn to this passage this morning and sat with it for a little while. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it own.” Matthew 6:34. I have sat with this text for years, and it always stirs a few thoughts for me.

In my work as a pastor and therapist, I see two key areas that people struggle with. Those areas are depression and anxiety. Some struggle with both but most have one of those areas that can sometimes begin to consume their lives. I find this area very interesting, and have experienced it in my own life. It is why this verse has been so important.

I personally, over the years, have struggled some with depression. For me and my work with others, depression typically is focused in the past. For me, it has been centered on and focusing on things in my life that have been missing and tend to make me feel, powerless, deficient, sad, hurting sometimes even angry. It’s this focus, “that life is somehow unfair!”

The other side is anxiety. Anxiety is much more future focused. It has some fear, uncertainty, concern about what is going to happen or not happen and a core belief that we have little control of what is going to happen or never happen in our life. Both depression and anxiety keep us from living in the moment, living fully present in today! This is a problem and if not addressed at some point can become a huge problem for individuals.

This is what I love and resonate with in this text. I hear such a beautiful and real-time example of the wisdom of Jesus. Jesus is saying, don’t worry about tomorrow. He is also implying there is no reason to worry or focus on yesterday or last week. He is simply saying, “worry about, stay focused and present in today.” Today is something you and I have control of and what I do today can change my past and impact my future. Let me share the text from the Message version.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Read that again!! You and I really do have some control of today! If I live and walk in that truth, today will go better and that will absolutely have some impact on tomorrow.

So today I am grateful to be alive. I am grateful for the really good cup of coffee I had this morning. Grateful for God’s word and how it has impacted, influenced and shaped my life and mindset. So very grateful to get to spend time with Natalie and Madison today. Grateful to exercise and take Gracie for a walk and enjoy the sunshine. Grateful to be up early and share a few thoughts that might encourage one or two other people.

You have today! How you live today and the choices you make will absolutely impact and influence tomorrow. So,,,, today go live well, enjoy your day, reflect on how you are blessed and make an effort to love someone in your life well.

I am grateful for today and for you!

Peace,