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Today and Today Only
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:34
What a challenging quote from Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel account. I find, as someone who likes to try and think ahead, these words from our Savior particularly difficult.
In the verses leading up to this, Jesus reminds us to stop and look around at God’s creation. The birds have enough to eat, the flowers are beautiful and cannot make anything for themselves. God the Father provides for all of creation. Jesus tells us not to worry about what to wear because there is more to life than what we eat, drink or wear.
While it is pleasant, in theory, not to worry about tomorrow, some of us are very worried about it. Perhaps it is whether we will get into the school we want, get the bonus needed to pay off debt, or await word from a doctor. This tension of living in the present with the weight of tomorrow weighing us down is real.
One interpretation of Jesus’ words is an invitation to be present in this moment, in this hour — changing from considering what we can do to help ourselves and others in the unknown future to what we can do now to meet this moment. This shift in thinking gives us much more responsibility and agency to help ourselves and those around us. It can break us out of a cycle of inaction and into action. What is one task I can do today — this hour — to help build up the kingdom?
I pray that you are able not only to meet today’s trouble but also to overcome it. With God’s help, all things are possible, even more than we can ask or imagine. God will provide for us, Jesus reminds us, because we are loved even more than tulips in a field or birds of the air.
Go now in peace with encouragement to meet the worry of today — not tomorrow — with grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.
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