Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

Your Nightly Prayer

Anxious About Tomorrow’s To-Do List
by Kyle Norman

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble for its own.” - Matthew 6:34

SOMETHING TO PONDER

When I feel overwhelmed, I have a hard time sleeping. Are you the same? I turn things over and over in my mind, and it’s like I can’t let it go. But it’s not just my mind that is racing; when I am particularly worried about something, my heart feels heavy and burdened. I lie in my bed in a state of stress. Of course, eventually, I fall asleep, but I wake up the next morning feeling restless. And the worry comes rushing back. But into that place, Jesus offers a word of comfort and release: “Do not worry about tomorrow.”

Now let’s be honest, when I feel overwhelmed or worried, my first response will be, “yea right!” With all the I face, with the weights that I carry or the situations that I must navigate, not-worrying doesn’t seem to be an option.

Jesus knows exactly what he is saying. He isn’t saying that we should be so stoic that we are unaffected by life around us. Of course, we are impacted by the events of the day and the actions of others. But as prone as we may be to fret over the things we cannot control, Jesus calls us to remain fixed on him. See, worry is another form of meditation. Worry is the process by which we take a situation or an event and turn it over in our minds again and again and again. We fill up our souls with this type of rumination. This type of meditation keeps us soiled in despair and negativity; it holds before us that obstacle or that fear, that stress, or that struggle, and it produces nothing but feelings of hopelessness or discouragement. The more we fixate on the impending worry of tomorrow, the less we focus on the presence of the Lord in this moment.

Henri Nouwen, priest and author, once wrote that preoccupation is filling our lives with something before it ever arrives. That’s what we do when we become overly worried about tomorrow – we fill our souls with scenarios and stresses before they ever land on our doorstep.

When Jesus says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, he is not suggesting that there is nothing to worry about. Jesus knows that’s not the case. But instead of focusing on that which we can’t control, we are to set our minds on his gracious presence. We are to cast our hearts upon the presence of the Lord that surrounds us.

Because the fact is right now, his grace is far superior to every worrisome or fearful situation we face. The presence of Jesus breaks the stronghold of any worry or anxiety. And when tomorrow comes, guess what, he will be with you there. So why feel overwhelmed when you are in partnership with the one who is bigger than all?

What are you worried about today? What causes you to feel overwhelmed? Remember, Jesus is with you, and you can trust in his provision and his care. Jesus, who is bigger than all problems, stronger than all your fears, and more present to you than any worry, surrounds you. Do not worry about tomorrow, Jesus is with you today.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Gracious Jesus, when I am overwhelmed by stress and worries, it becomes easy to lose focus on your presence. Worry can consume me to the point of sleeplessness or heartache; Yet you call me to rest in your presence. I know you are with me in this moment. In an act of radical trust, I cast all my worries before you. Help me to breathe in your Spirit that comforts me. Help me hear the assurance of your strength and your presence.

Jesus, I reach out to you, confident that in this moment, I can give you all my stresses, all my worries, all my anxieties; and in return, you give me grace and peace. Be my hope, be my joy, be my strength and my refuge. In your gracious love, extend your peace to me so that I may rest this night in the safety of your presence. And when I rise tomorrow, help me recognize that I do so with you by my side. This I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1 The places of worry can be opportunities to turn to Jesus in prayer. How might you turn your worry into a time of prayer?

2 Jesus’ call to not worry seems extreme, but his point is that we cannot do it without him. Jesus gives you the strength to walk through whatever life throws at you. Where do you see Jesus strengthening you?

3 When we worry, we either live in the past, fretting over what was, or we live in the future, worried about what will be. Instead, Jesus calls us to be present. Take a moment and focus on the presence of Jesus that surrounds you this night.

The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.