I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, I know that I have a few things in mind to do, nothing specific, nothing pressing, items of the world only, nothing foreseeable as of any eternal consequence.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)
I have never met anyone who takes absolutely no thought for tomorrow, making no plans whatsoever, even if it’s the most minor plan, to get some milk from the store or call up an old friend, to leave tomorrow completely void of any forethought whatsoever is inconceivable to us. I think that verse has much in common with Philippians 4:6.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Where that fine line between preparing for the future and being overly concerned, even nervous about it, is what sets us apart from the world.
The best laid plans my friends.
The Lord is directing our steps, He will never leave us or forsake us, He knows the plans He has for us, and no one is going to take us out of His hands. No worries. But for some reason we do at times, don’t we? The alarm clock fails to go off in the morning, the car will not start, or the bus is late, a thousand and more examples can be offered here to you, and we begin to become anxious.
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)
It is not possible to rest in the Lord when we are anxious, there is no peace that passes all understanding when we are in a state of worrying, there is no joy in nervous anxiety. Take a deep breath, recall that He is directing your steps, trust in Him and start over.
I am going to presume here that every moment of concern about tomorrow, every unexpected anxious moment that you have ever experienced had something to do with the temporal, and absolutely nothing to do with anything eternal. Would that be correct?
We set a structure for ourselves in this life, a supposed security in repetition, in the known past reappearing in the present, revealing itself again tomorrow. And the next day, and the next day, ad Infinium. To a degree there really is nothing wrong with that, if you can remember that is the Lord that directs our steps, and He may have you step to a different tune tomorrow.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)
Brother Lawrence, a man of God who lived many centuries ago in what we today would call a monastery, though not in any relation to the cult of Rome, when told it was time to go to his room to pray, did as he was told, but could not figure out why, for he was in prayer, communion and contemplation with the Lord continually.
What tomorrow brings should be of no consideration to us, the Almighty is already there waiting for us. No worries. Pain, suffering, trials, tribulations or joy, love, compassion and devotion, does it matter?
“For I am the LORD, I change not;” (Malachi 3:6a)
There is the truth of comfort today for tomorrow and every day that comes after it.
I know the feeling when the alarm clock doesn’t sound in the morning and you have to be somewhere, if you do not rush yourself, you will be late. Can you keep your soul at peace while you rush? If tomorrow brings unforeseen turmoil, can you still find rest in the promises? Can you still understand and accept the difference between the temporal and the eternal?
If tomorrow is not what I expected, I can still find peace and joy in it, knowing that my Father in heaven has everything under control.
