“Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.
Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
“Look at the lilies 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 flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes.
Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Luke chapter 12, verses 22-34)
Do not worry…
Have you ever worried how this week’s pay check will see you through to the next? Worried that the food in your house isn’t enough to feed your family until shopping day? I know I have. I like many live with faith but sometimes it is truly hard not to doubt the word and the faith I live by.
But God so clearly tells us that we are valuable to him, we are more valuable to him than the birds he feeds. His words asks us “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?” (Luke chapter 12, verse 25)
This scripture in Luke has challenged me as I have read and prayed on his word, as I feel convicted by the worries I’ve had fill my mind and overpower my thoughts.
Worries of the world….
Often New Zealand and Australia feel so far and cut off from the rest of the world; sometimes this feels like we are disconnected from reality but in some senses I feel this is a blessing not a disguise. We are living in a world stricken with grief, pain and poverty, a world of worries.
As the world struggles with war, poverty, natural disasters, the continuing financial and widespread devastation from a locked down pandemic world these past few years.
As the economy continues to struggle and our cost of living soars I know many people are feeling the pressure and full of worry about where their next meal will come from, how they will fill their car with nearly $3 a litre petrol, how they will pay their rent that has once again risen albeit their pay check only changing by a few cents.
Faith beyond the worry…
Faith beyond the worry, what does that even mean? To me it means to have faith well beyond the worry, to have faith even when you cannot see the light, to have faith even when your tank and bank is empty, to have faith even when it feels hard, to have faith even when you doubt.
His word tells us he knows us, he knows our needs and even when we cannot see he has us taken care of and we shouldn’t worry about these things like unbelievers of the world. If we seek him over everything else, if we have faith and believe even when we want to worry, he will give us everything we need.
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Luke chapter 12, verse 34).
For he has us covered, he has all the worries and needs of us and our hearts completely covered, and all we need to do is continue to seek him and to have faith beyond the worry.
I am a Young Salvationist who lives in Upper Hutt, Wellington. I am passionate about enhancing the life experiences of others and do this in my paid employment as a Support worker for those with Intellectual Disabilities and as a volunteer leader for GirlGuiding New Zealand. I love to create, write and travel the world and have a passion for submerging myself in the cultures of each place I travel. I left my heart in Africa a month before Covid sent the world into lockdown and I cannot wait to be able to return and serve in a continent that stole so much of my heart.