Verses 25-30 Anxiety is any thought that is distracting our spirit with worry, tormenting thoughts, or hurries our minds about the cares of this life and disturbs our joy and trust in God. What keeps us up at night or disturbs our enjoyment of the people/things that God has given us? This worry is also a sign that we have dropped our gaze at heaven and placed our treasure in the things of this earth. We might worry more about God’s provision for our bodies but ignore the condition of our souls. Our spirit is more important than the body. We should be more concerned about pleasing God than pleasing ourselves. If reasoning should rule over us and have us worried about what we should wear or eat, we should remember that God gave us the body, our breath, this life, as an act of His favor and power. It required none of our worries to bring life into our bones.

Jesus turns our focus from our worry to His faithfulness to provide for the birds of the air and the flowers in the field. Even a rich man (Solomon) in all his splendor could not compare to the beauty God provides in His creation. I once had a therapist tell me that all anxiety stems from our thoughts that living in the future without God. Meaning when we are anxious about something that is about to happen in our near or far future, we need to put God on the throne over that thought and ask ourselves, “what does God’s Word say about this?” What is God’s character and Truth? His promises need to reign supreme over our thoughts of future events. We cannot let our thoughts live in the future without a good, good Father. We cannot let our toiling thoughts dwell on the possibilities in our future without crowning our King as sovereign, supreme over it all. Forgetting the promises from our Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider leads us to even fear tomorrow. But this fear only stems from unbelief in God’s wisdom and goodness in the way He provides for us. His Word is final. We might be broke, but He is the broker with an endless supply. We might have questions, but He holds all the answers.

Verses 31-32 Even people who don’t believe in God and seek after their own gods (money, status, work) worry. But as a believer, we have the One True Living God, a good, good Father who knows exactly what we need and can supply it. It’s not a bad thing to have a plan and to work hard. We are called to be diligent in our calling and the works He has placed before us. God gives us the wisdom (James 1:5-8) to plan and the ability to work hard. We need to always prioritize God’s plan and His work in our lives.

Verse 33 says “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” not your worries. Put God first in all your thoughts and all your questions will be answered with peace and confidence because His Word says that “all these things will be added to you.” (ESV) In all things, seek first the kingdom of God, His Word, His will, His desires for your life, and everything else will fall into place. No worries or anxieties are needed to make these things happen. We will spend most of our lives worrying over things that never happen to us. Worrying is a waste of time when our Heavenly Father is looking out for us. When things go wrong in our lives, when a challenge comes or we’re tempted to worry, we need to ask ourselves, “where have I placed God in this situation?” Over it? Under it? A conquering king holding it in his hand? Or defeated by it? Where is God’s authority and rule in our lives? Are we seeking to live according to His Word? Are we doing what He has called believers to do? Are we believing as Jesus called us to believe? When we need guidance in life, where do we go first? Suffering still happens to believers. We live in a sin-soaked, fallen world. But how we respond to suffering is much different than the world. We pursue His way and His peace and we give preference to it if worry tries to compete for our attention. We respond with trust in an Almighty God. We respond with confidence in our Good Shepherd. We respond with an even deeper devotion to our Comforter, our Shield, and we allow the suffering without the backlash because we know we are provided for in the pain.

A pastor once said for many Christians, God is like a spare tire. He’s an extra in their lives in case they have trouble. God should be steering our vehicle, He should be involved in transporting us where we are heading. He should be the first place we go for direction. Are we looking to the world to tell us what we should do with our lives or asking God for our assignment on this earth? Are we letting His Word and godly counsel speak to our situations and help direct our path or allowing social media, reality t.v., the news, entertainment, or our emotions to influence what we do in our lives?

When we look to God’s wisdom and ways to guide our lives, His Word says “all these things will be added to you.”

Verse 34 We are called to take care of what God equips and enables us to take care of today and let the worries of tomorrow wait for tomorrow. Focus on seeking God’s priorities for today and living for Him and you will find this is the remedy to our worries.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being so good. Thank you for handling all the cares and worries in this life for me. I lay down any thoughts that have elevated my situation over Your sovereignty. I lay down every anxious thought and worry that is hindering me from living according to Your Word. You came to free us from the burdens of this world. Your Word says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22) and “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). Jesus, you came to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free! You break every yoke that tries to enslave me. (Isaiah 58:6) You will help me, God, so I cast all my cares upon You because You care so much for me. You know what I need and provide what is beneficial to my spiritual growth and Your Kingdom’s purposes. I humbly come to You, God, and submit my plans to Your Word. I surrender my thoughts to Your mighty hand so that in due time, You might exalt me above this situation that has worried me and these circumstances that have me so anxious. (1 Peter 5:6, 7) Guide me, Jesus, in the way to go today. Equip me with Your wisdom to do what I can do and trust You with what only You can do. All that I need is found in You, God. Remind me, Holy Spirit, when I’m tempted to elevate the things of this world. You are sufficient. You are more than enough. I trust You, God. I praise You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.