So Far
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 (The Message)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
Insight
Today has been a beautiful day!
It was hard, but I resisted the urge to drop a "so far" at the end of that sentence. With no magic mirror shedding light on what lies ahead, the "so far" tagline protects me from potential disappointment and the world's ugliness washing away the glimpses of beauty I'm experiencing.
The only certainty is tomorrow's uncertainty - it's why we have sayings like, "Hope for the best but prepare for the worst," and how my computer knew to fill in that last part for me.
My anxious mind, the one Christ continues to work on and transform graciously, knows this tension and struggle all too well. The endless "what If" scenarios cloud my horizon even on the sunniest day, sometimes so overwhelming that they linger, forming shadows that distort what I see. It doesn't matter that researchers at Penn State University say that 92% of the things people worry about never happen - it's the other 8% that I'm concerned about.
Our broken world will inevitably cause us to face many trials and tribulations. It's these circumstances the enemy wants to capitalize on, leverage, and convince us that God is not good. When we listen to this distraction, our circumstances consume us with no context of why we may be in this struggle.
Christ reminds us in John 16 that we will have trouble, but to take heart for He has overcome the world. We have a good Father, and He is here with us in EVERY moment. By keeping our eyes, hearts, and minds on Jesus, we recognize that God uses every moment for our good - to grow, stretch, and shape us to be all He created us to be. God's presence remains in those challenging junctures, allowing even our most difficult days to stay beautiful. So, maybe a different way to look at it is this:
We can bask in the beauty of today's present moment, fully assured that our loving Father will take care of tomorrow.
Reflection
How can you rest in the beauty of today with joyful anticipation instead of concentrating on the "what ifs" that might happen tomorrow?
Think of the places where worry and anxiety occupy your mind. What would it look like to declare your trust in God taking care of your tomorrow?
Prayer
Dear Father, I don't enjoy the painful part of stretching, but I know it is necessary to become all You are creating me to be. Help me to recognize that these moments of struggle are for my good and display my need for You and Your grace. May I keep my eyes, mind, and heart on You in my life's beautiful and challenging times. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Cindy Stauffer, Administrative Assistant at the Wilmington Campus, wrote today’s devotional.