Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:34

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Lamentations 3:22–23

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness."

There is a natural and strong impulse in our hearts to want to feel sufficient strength and ability for the future encounters we might face. We want to be able to look to the future dwell on it. What will my life be like in 10 years? Will I have a wife and children? What will my health be like? What will our church be like? What will tomorrow bring? Will I have the strength to live the day wisely and to the glory of God? So often we can be uncertain and worrisome about the future. We can go on desperately needing to feel the strength for tomorrow. However God has given us a great secret to the Christian life that will get us over that.

It is not God’s will for us to worry and cave in to these oppressive anxieties, or even find a worldly strategy for developing immense ego strength and persuade yourself that you really are sufficient for tomorrow's troubles. God’s answer is found in the pages of Scripture. Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

This text does not mean we are not to make any plans for tomorrow. As a businessman, it would be silly not to spend any time planning a venture before commencing it. Jesus said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him?” A farmer prepares the soil for planting, he works to plant the seed and to water it each day. He can’t expect a crop if he doesn’t work for it first.

The point of Matthew 6:34 is not to neglect to make wise preparations. The point is that we are not to bring the troubles and uncertainties of carrying out those preparations tomorrow into today. “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Yes, each day’s troubles are sufficient. Your sovereign heavenly Father, who is kind and wise beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best, lovingly its part of pain and pleasure. Each day's troubles are “sufficient” because God determines their limit. God decides what is enough and what is sufficient (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lamentations 3:22–23:

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”

The Lord’s mercies are “new every morning”. That phrase gives me great confidence that each day's mercies—each day's kindnesses—are given specifically for that day.

There is such a great battle that goes on. We want the feeling of adequacy today for what we will have to go through tomorrow. But God tells us to trust Him. He will give it to you when you need it. It’s hard, but that trust is part of God’s mercy for today. He graciously gives you the ability to trust Him for all your needs. He has promised, and He will supply.

2 Corinthians 9:8-10:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”