How Do You Feel? Stressed?
Devotions on Emotions (and Scripture) by the First Pres Pastors
A reflection on Matthew 6:25-33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,[j] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[k] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God[l] and his[m] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
What are the stressors in your life? Do you try to fill most of the hours of most of your days trying to “Keep up with the Joneses?” It seems that the crowds in Jesus’ time might have fallen into that trap. Jesus talked to those who were stressed about what they would eat, what they would drink, and what they would wear. It seems that material things were consuming them and taking a toll on their spiritual health.
He told them to leave the worry about what they really needed in life to God. And to remember that God provided those things to the ones who were striving first for God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ examples of God’s care may give us hint in trying to relieve some of our stress:
Consider the lilies of the field (stop and smell the roses.)
Look at the birds of the air (appreciate nature and its wonder.)
Let’s take a little time out from the rat race to just appreciate how God’s care is on display all around.
Prayer
Loving Creator, I thank you for making this wonderful world and placing me in it. And I thank you for the care that you show for your creation. Help me now to listen to Jesus’ words and watch the quality of His life, as I live today seeking to bring your Kingdom a little closer. Amen.