Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  Luke 12:22-24
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (NRSV)

Reflection
There was a brief period of time when I was about ten years old, that I would stay up late tossing and turning, just sick with worry about how my parents were going to be able to afford to raise their four children. Looking back, of course that was ridiculous. I was only ten years old. What did I know about any of that? Nothing. There was no need to fear, but I did. And it was agony. I remember it well today. Each night during that brief period, my mom would try to calm me by telling me, “Do not worry.” “We will take care of you.” “Everything is going to be alright.” And that eventually worked. Those words, that assurance. My mom gave this ten-year-old no plan or specific details about how everything would work out or why. But that’s not what I needed. Those words, that assurance coming from her was what it took to alleviate my fears. I just had to believe her. Have faith.

Now I’m a mother tempted by the same anxieties and many more than my ten-year-old self could have imagined. And here Jesus is telling me not to be anxious for my life because God takes care of us. While that is still easier said than done for this worrywart, I have found great comfort in believing in just that. I do my best to do my best and have faith that God will provide.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you for relieving our anxiety, and when we worry, please help us remember that you will always be there for us. Amen.

Written by Katie Johnson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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