What causes you the most stress? Is it fretting over meeting your daily physical needs? If so, I think you have much in common with the followers of Jesus in the first century.
As He gave His discourse over kingdom living in what we call the Sermon on the Mount, He emphasized He would provide for us (Matthew 6:25-26; 28-30). Jesus said to not be anxious (fret) over what we eat or wear. He reminded the listeners on that hillside, and reminds us today, that God takes care of the birds and the flowers, so why would He not take care of our needs? After all, we are His children.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus emphasizes that He is our daily bread and we should trust Him to provide for our needs. When we get stressed, it may be as Jesus said — we are of little faith, unbelieving that God is able to provide and need to cry out as the man in Mark 9:24 did: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”
In times when fret begins to loom in my mind, I reread these verses in Matthew 6 and it reminds me to trust that God knows my needs. If you have a tendency to do the same when times get tough, instead reflect on how He has always met your needs so far. I imagine you’ll recall He did so in ways you never suspected. That may help your disbelief by reminding you what you do believe in — a God who provides daily.
God, may we realize when we fret over today’s needs for daily bread, that we are doubting your ability or willingness to supply. God, grow our faith that we may trust you to do as you’ve promised. Amen.
Go Deeper — Prayerfully read through Matthew 6. Ask God to expose any areas of unbelief in your heart. Then seek His forgiveness and grace to trust in Him.
Photo Credit: Kate Remmer