Unbothered
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 NLT
“Do not worry.” A command from Jesus that is often difficult for me to personally apply. When there is something going on in my life and I don’t see the end picture, panic can quickly creep in and create a strong sense of urgency to try to figure out how to resolve it all on my own. It creates striving. I find myself wasting precious time trying to figure out all the details or taking things on that were never mine to carry.
As much as we know what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, it can still be hard as Christians to not fall into this pattern, especially in our American culture that praises hustle culture and achievement as being great things. How do we differentiate from the world’s culture and be as unbothered as a wildflower minding its business in a field? (I mean, that sounds pretty low-key and relaxed to me!)
Psalm 127, usually attributed to King Solomon, is full of wise advice here:
“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalms 127:1-2 NLT
Wow. How did God know I stay up late and get up early when I’m stressed and trying to do things in my own strength? It’s amazing how he can “read our mail” like that. I’ve gotten a lot better at making myself go to sleep even if all the day’s work isn’t done, but if you’re a close friend of mine and you’re reading this, you know I’m still personally working on this one! Here’s another passage that literally encourages us to go to sleep and let God figure it out:
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalms 4:8 NLT
Something God has really been saying to me in response to my striving is the reminder to have childlike faith. That’s hard to do when we we are grown, responsible adults who keep it all together for our own families. But God wants all of us to be like kids when we approach him—full of complete trust and faith in His care, asking him for anything we need without fear of judgment or repercussion, and washed in complete and total peace like a child who can let their guard down and rest safely in the home of their Father.
If you find yourself striving this week, take a moment to pause and reflect on these scriptures with me. I pray that “the God of hope fills your with all joy and peace as you put your trust in Him” (Romans 15:13).
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4
