Do Not Worry

Life is like a story book. As a character in the book, you never know what the next chapter or even the next page holds. You can only look back to see the past chapters, things that you did, how you learned, and how you've grown since that chapter of life.  Each day has it's own page, and the things that happen on that page, the character has no absolute control over.  This is where a constant reliance, trust and surrender comes to the Author and Perfecter of your story.

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about this.  It's interesting to think about my life in these terms.  I have a lot going on in my life right now, lots of big changes coming up, lots of excitement, and also many hard things that I am going to have to face.  But in these times, I am called not to worry.  I've been reading through Matthew and came across a passage in chapter 6 titled "Do Not Worry."  This is one of those passages that sometimes can get over-read or over-quoted.  But this past time that I read it, the Lord illuminated some verses and spoke to my heart.  Oftentimes, i find myself worrying about trivial things, and even over-thinking situations that are about to be played out in my life.  But in Matthew Jesus speaks to his disciples and reminds them not to worry.  He says, "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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Jesus reminds the disciples that He takes care of even the birds of the air.  Not only does he take care of animals but he takes care of the plants too: the lily of the field; he clothes it with greater splendor than king Solomon.  Jesus reminds that I, as His child, am of such greater value than they, than the birds, the flowers.  I am his daughter and just as a Father cares about his child, and wants the best for his child, Jesus Christ loves and cares about me.  

The very last couple verses of this passage are probably my favorite part:
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (the things that the heavenly Father knows you need) will be GIVEN to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Something that I have learned and continue to learn is to simply trust in God and his sovereignty over my life. Why worry about something that is already planned? God knows me better than i could ever know myself, and he holds the key that unlocks every situation in my life, he is very plainly asking me and all of his dearly loved children to not worry, and to just trust Him. To trust Him for each letter that makes up a word, which makes up a sentence, creating a paragraph and eventually a chapter of life.  He knows exactly how each past, present and future chapter will work to create me into the character he wants me to be. He is indeed the Author and Perfecter of my life story, and He will give strength to trust to those who ask in his name.