Today I feel exhausted. It was an incredibly busy weekend and the thought of the craziness to come this next week is enough to make my introverted heart panic. If it wasn’t enough to worry about this during the day, my sleep was also interrupted with worry. I worry about how I will have energy to talk with people in all my upcoming meetings. I think back to past reports and conversations and beat myself up for saying the wrong thing or not preparing as I should have. Amid all this, however, these verses come to mind.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27, NIV).
In the midst of today’s weariness, I went for a walk. Taking my time, I wandered through the bush noticing animal tracks and hearing the crunch of small animals in the bushes. I also had the privilege of seeing a nuthatch as it flitted from tree to tree, pecking here and there, looking around and chirping. It was not concerned about the coming winter. It ate the food in front of it and continued on to the next branch.
This encouraged me. I saw clearly what Jesus meant when he talked about God providing for the birds. It encouraged me to turn back to him. Rather than panicking about how I will do all of this in my own strength, I see how I can have confidence that God’s strength is enough. If he can feed the birds, surely he can give me words to speak. If I am actually more valuable than they are, he can definitely give me energy in the work he has called me to. Here is what we are called to do instead “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34, NIV)
Now we have a choice to make. Will we spend our time and energy worrying or will we trust in God’s strength and provision? Let us seek God first together this week. May we know him and find joy in seeing how he provides.
Kyla Plett works full time with Midway Bible Camp and InterAct Ministries Canada. She loves living in Thompson, being in nature and freshly roasted coffee.
