“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has troubles of its own.” – Matthew 6:24
Do not worry about tomorrow is a command God gives to His children.
I always say if it’s in the Bible it’s for a reason—to guide us for better or protect us from worse.
So many people in today’s culture live life for tomorrow.
It’s very easy and tempting to always worry about the days and tasks ahead.
But as the saying goes, “Tomorrow is not a day of the week.”
The day you’re in now is the only day you have the most control over.
Worry Takes Away Your Peace Not Your Troubles
Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s trouble.
It only takes away today’s peace.
Living in a fast-paced society has us wired to always be thinking about the next.
The next project, next birthday, next degree, next relationship, the next: you fill in the blank.
When we live life with this mindset we’re opening the door for worry and fear which creates anxiety.
God makes the point very clear that each day brings its own troubles.
So if you bring tomorrow’s trouble into today’s lane then you’re at risk for living a life of trouble.
This verse is actually a command so when we live in constant worry of the future (which we have no control over) we’re actually being disobedient.
How this trouble manifests for each person is different.
But I’m sure most of us can relate to the trouble called stress and anxiety, which is no fun!
According to the APA, chronic stress is linked to six leading causes of death and more than 75% of all physician office visits are stress related ailments, whoa!
You see, God knew the damaging impact worrying about tomorrow’s trouble and uncertainty of life brings.
He knew living a life always on edge would not only be damaging to our mental and physical health but ultimately to our spiritual health as well.
This lifestyle does not bring glory to God and hinders the wonders God wants to do in us through faith.
Faith and Fear Cannot Reside Together!
Living a life of faith and trusting God with our tomorrow, brings glory to Him and shows others His power.
God says He gives us His peace, (John 14:27) a hope, and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
As Christians, we are to be a light in the world but if a non-believer sees a believer all frazzled and stressed out just as they are, then we are not using our actions as a light to point them to God.
We’re not showing the world the peace God says He gives to us to point them to the only solution for our worries.
Well, you may say, “I just can’t help it. I don’t know how to not worry. If I don’t worry about it then who else will?”
I’m glad you asked.
God in His great understanding of us (remember after all He did create us) knows that naturally we worry and fret.
So He gives us instructions on how to handle it when the temptation to worry comes over us in this scripture.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving make your requests known. – Philippians 4:6-8
God Calls You to Do 3 Things in Moments of Worry:
- Do not be anxious: This means don’t be disturbed, tense, distressed, or nervous for anything! So think about what’s causing you anxiousness today and insert that here.
- By prayer make your needs known: God knows what were struggling with. He knows what we’re thinking before we say it. But God wants us to act out and live out our faith by humbly coming to Him to tell Him what we need. This shows God that you know He truly is your hope and solution to your trouble.
- Express Gratitude: When we pray with an attitude of gratitude, a shift takes place in our mind. We go from thinking of what needs are to be met to the needs that already have been met. Don’t you like to be thanked when you do something nice for someone?Being that God created us in His image it’s safe to say God does too. Thanksgiving moves the heart of God, especially in hard seasons. There are many scriptures all throughout the Bible addressing giving thanks, so we can discern that this is very important to God and should be a daily habit in our lives. (Colossians 3:17)
I will give thanks to you Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wondrous deeds. – Psalm 9:1
When we come to God in this way, we are given a promise that the peace of God will guard our hearts and mind.
Worry and anxiousness start in the mind.
God promises to guard it, but you see, it’s conditional.
God says you don’t have because you don’t ask. (James 4:2-3)
We receive this peace when we come to God using the three requirements above.
The Christian Faith is Action Oriented
God says faith without works is dead.
Christian living is not just about receiving, but also about responding.
Sometimes God calls us to do tasks that can be initially fearful.
And like Jonah, we want to say no and go hide from God until He forgets about it.
Or, we respond like Moses, and think God made a mistake in choosing us for a task because we think we don’t qualify.
But God is sovereign and wants us to be our best.
This means using us how He chooses and most of the time it is a call to step out in faith for our good and His glory.
I love the story of Joshua; it’s a story of a strong military leader that God rose up after Moses.
God did miracles for Moses and the people of Israel that were obvious and proved no doubt it was from God, yet the people still grumbled.
However, when Joshua took leadership after Moses’ death, God required more action from Joshua and the people than before.
God moved and that increased his faith and the people he led, however, this generation had faith in God and Joshua.
They believed and knew God was with him, therefore, this was the generation that entered the promise land.
God told Joshua three times, “be strong and courageous, as I was with Moses, so I am with you.” (Joshua 1:9)
Just like Moses, Joshua was going to be successful wherever he went because God was with him.
You see Joshua was scared too!
He knew how great a responsibility this was and I’m sure it was easier to fret and be anxious and look for a way out.
But Joshua believed God and became one of the greatest biblical generals in human history.
God Wants You to Enter Into Your Promised Land Too
God wants to take you from the old life into the new life He has promised for you.
God was reassuring Joshua that Moses ability to lead was not because of his great wisdom and strength but Gods!
Faith is the bridge that we can cross over to receive that promise.
And fear is the boulder that gets in your way and can cause you to remain in your wilderness longer than God intended.
Sometimes if there’s something I’m nervous about doing or believe I’m not qualified to do, I remind myself and say, “Erica, it’s not about you. If God called you to do this then its obviously for His glory and for others”.
When I shift my perspective in this way I’m able to invite faith and God’s sovereignty to lead the circumstance in.
And kick fear to the curb.
Where God leads, even in the midst of your wilderness, He will always provide.
God was faithful to His promise to Abraham that one day his descendants would dwell in the promised land.
And under Joshua, God accomplished just that.
Staying in today’s lane and out of tomorrows can be difficult.
That’s why it takes intentional effort, perseverance, and discipline.
God always requires action on our part for Him to act.
Surrendering the day to the Lord requires obedience and faith, but God says in Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust Him and He will act.”
Each day God gives is a blessing and He expects us to use it to its fullest bringing Him glory in it.
Bringing future troubles and concerns that you have no control over into your day will hinder even the small beautiful blessings from being seen.
5 Practical Ways to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Today
- Start the day with the Lord first thing, if that means waking up sooner then so be it. Would you be physically full and nourished if you waited until dinner to eat your first meal? Well, same with the spiritual. You need your spiritual breakfast to energize and equip you for the day.
- Ask yourself what does God require of me this day. Write it down and prioritize it.
- Ask yourself what does your job, school, family, etc require of you today and prioritize it.
- Make a gratitude list. Journal or write at least three things at the end of your day that you were grateful to either begin or complete. Then, list anything else that you were grateful for that happened today. This will help you begin to see the small daily miracles and God’s hand in your life.
- Rest. God says “be still and know that I am God”. Sometimes that means taking a time out and reflecting on the goodness of the Lord. Whatever is stressing you out in that moment think instead of how much greater your God is than that problem. This can even be a physical rest if necessary.
I love the quote that says,
“You’re so used to always telling God how big your problem is. Instead tell your problems how big your God is.”
Remember God does not give us each day to be lived tomorrow.
Today has enough trouble of its own to be concerned with.
There’s a reason you’re here and alive on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc.
There’s something each day God wants to use you for.
So be intentional about glorifying God with the time He’s given you today.
Make the most of the day at hand. Allow joy and love to accompany you. And look forward to tomorrow when tomorrow’s turn comes.
I truly needed that today..Thank you so much God Bless you ..
Thank you Stacy! I’m so glad God spoke to you through this post. Have a blessed week!
I truly needed that today..Thank you so much God Bless you ..
Thank you Stacy! I’m so glad God spoke to you through this post. Have a blessed week!
Amazing how God still provides manna on our path daily. Was searching one think and somehow I was led to your page. Having medical issues and the waiting to know. Stress was wanting to take over when I realized I am in God’s hand no matter what I face. He keeps filling my mind daily with things I know He wants me to know in my heart and mind. Thank you for being His messenger today !
Amen! Its amazing how God will always take care of his own and lead us. It may not be our way, it may not even be logical to us, but as heaven is above earth so his ways and thoughts above ours. I pray for healing for you sister and that God continues to be your anchor.
Amazing how God still provides manna on our path daily. Was searching one think and somehow I was led to your page. Having medical issues and the waiting to know. Stress was wanting to take over when I realized I am in God’s hand no matter what I face. He keeps filling my mind daily with things I know He wants me to know in my heart and mind. Thank you for being His messenger today !
Amen! Its amazing how God will always take care of his own and lead us. It may not be our way, it may not even be logical to us, but as heaven is above earth so his ways and thoughts above ours. I pray for healing for you sister and that God continues to be your anchor.
Great reminder!
Praise God, God bless you!
Great reminder!
Praise God, God bless you!
Hi Erica
I am struggling with fear of tomorrow. Sometimes my faith gets low and this is the bad times when I struggle with fear and anxiousness.
I have read the above guidelines to remove this fear. I shall continue to read and implement what you have advised.
Fear and perceived disappointment as a result is what I am battling. When I look at myself, I really have nothing to fear, but perception is so strong.
Please continue to pray with me and thanks for your guidelines above to removing fear
Hi Dexter,
I pray for you now, and I know what you’re speaking of. Our perception can be so deceiving to make us believe things are out of control when in reality, how can that be when God says he plans the steps of man, and his purposes will prevail.
So reading scripture over yourself that pertain to the certain circumstance thats causing you fear and worry is helpful. God’s hand is not too short that he cannot control your tomorrow. If God can control this complex universe how much easier for God to handle Dexter’s life?
I like that you mentioned Faith, because yes when our faith tank is low, theres room for all kinds of thoughts to flil it’s place. Thoughts of doubt, fear, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness. So if you know your lack of faith produces growth of worry, then you must reconnect with God right away, and allow him to fill you. I encourage you to start journaling, this way you can track and see all the ways Gods hand has been in your life and his faithfulness to you, so when those moments of fear and worry come, you can look back and see his hand at work in your life.
God bless, Erica
Hi Erica
Thanks for your inspirational response. Yes as of Sunday I started to journalize my daily events and experiences.
This I believe is being helpful as I can see things that I worry about and over analyze just seem to work itself out through God’s hand being in my life and his faithfulness to me.
So your advice to me to review how he has handled my my life by his direct involvement and the positive results is what I need to learn to focus on.
Oh boy. Sometimes I feel so positive that t have captured that good feeling and then I go right back into doubting myself and the feelings return.
How do you suggest I sustain these positive feelings when I experience them
Sincerely
Dexter
Hi Erica
I am struggling with fear of tomorrow. Sometimes my faith gets low and this is the bad times when I struggle with fear and anxiousness.
I have read the above guidelines to remove this fear. I shall continue to read and implement what you have advised.
Fear and perceived disappointment as a result is what I am battling. When I look at myself, I really have nothing to fear, but perception is so strong.
Please continue to pray with me and thanks for your guidelines above to removing fear
Hi Dexter,
I pray for you now, and I know what you’re speaking of. Our perception can be so deceiving to make us believe things are out of control when in reality, how can that be when God says he plans the steps of man, and his purposes will prevail.
So reading scripture over yourself that pertain to the certain circumstance thats causing you fear and worry is helpful. God’s hand is not too short that he cannot control your tomorrow. If God can control this complex universe how much easier for God to handle Dexter’s life?
I like that you mentioned Faith, because yes when our faith tank is low, theres room for all kinds of thoughts to flil it’s place. Thoughts of doubt, fear, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness. So if you know your lack of faith produces growth of worry, then you must reconnect with God right away, and allow him to fill you. I encourage you to start journaling, this way you can track and see all the ways Gods hand has been in your life and his faithfulness to you, so when those moments of fear and worry come, you can look back and see his hand at work in your life.
God bless, Erica
Hi Erica
Thanks for your inspirational response. Yes as of Sunday I started to journalize my daily events and experiences.
This I believe is being helpful as I can see things that I worry about and over analyze just seem to work itself out through God’s hand being in my life and his faithfulness to me.
So your advice to me to review how he has handled my my life by his direct involvement and the positive results is what I need to learn to focus on.
Oh boy. Sometimes I feel so positive that t have captured that good feeling and then I go right back into doubting myself and the feelings return.
How do you suggest I sustain these positive feelings when I experience them
Sincerely
Dexter
Great word, honey! Even your dad needs to hear this often!
Thank you! I need to hear it as well, usually when I write, I’m also learning at the same time.God has a sense of humor. Haha
Great word, honey! Even your dad needs to hear this often!
Thank you! I need to hear it as well, usually when I write, I’m also learning at the same time.God has a sense of humor. Haha
I’m am enlightened and inspired by your words. Thank you and God Bless
Hello Phil,
Praise God, thank you! I pray Gods word continues to enlighten you and guard you.
God Bless!
Erica
I’m am enlightened and inspired by your words. Thank you and God Bless
Hello Phil,
Praise God, thank you! I pray Gods word continues to enlighten you and guard you.
God Bless!
Erica
Need to continue journalising and reflecting on how my God has brought me through my challenges and thus far.
Need to continue journalising and reflecting on how my God has brought me through my challenges and thus far.