A minute ago, when I looked out the window, it was foggy. I couldn’t see to the back of my property; but now, the pond and its ring of trees are clearly visible.
It kind of reminds me of the saying I heard when we visited Alberta a few years back: If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes! With the onslaught of global warming, we have all noted a change in our weather patterns, and I’m starting to think this saying will soon apply to Southern Ontario as well!
In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is quoted as saying something that is similar: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matt 6:25-27)
Wait. There is nothing about the weather in that passage…
Or is there?
The weather is part of life, and Jesus’ message to us is clear: We are not to worry about life’s problems!
The same is true of that bad reaction to chemotherapy and the pain that was a result of your last radiation treatment. It’s true of the sleepless nights and the tears of broken relationships as well as the anguish of job loss, financial difficulties, death, and any of the other myriad of things that we face on a daily basis. Hey, it is true of our entire life’s picture! God’s message to us throughout is clear: We are not to worry about life’s problems! For in all honesty, “Which of [us] by worrying can add one cubit to [our] stature?”
Though these words are already poignant, Jesus goes on to reiterate His point for another 7 verses. Friends, when Jesus repeats Himself, especially for 7 more verses, we know He’s trying to get our attention!
So what should we do instead of worrying?
We do what they do in Alberta–and what we are starting to need to do in Ontario as well–We wait it out, ever knowing that there are brighter days ahead.
But waiting is sometimes so hard. Isn’t there something we can do to help us through the wait?
Jesus has the answer there as well: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt 6:31-33).
While in the midst of our pain, our fatigue, our brokenness and our fear, Jesus says, “Seek…the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
Friends, seeking God in our pain will help us weather the storm, but it will do so much more: “…and all these things shall be added to you.” So while we stop worrying, while we seek God instead, God promises to take care of our problems.
It’s a win-win situation!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.