Everyone who knows me, knows I am generally not an anxious person but when I do get anxious it is a sight to behold. I remember the first time I had to run VBS myself when I was interning at a church a few years back. I had done all the prep, had all the volunteers, and was totally ready for the next few days and yet the entire time I was so nervous. I worried about every single possible outcome from the event.
What if a kid got hurt? What if none of the volunteers showed up? What if, What if, What if… it was all I could think about. Despite all my worry, VBS was a huge success and all of the kids and families were so excited coming out of it.
However, because of my worry, I couldn’t enjoy any of it. I had traded the opportunity to enjoy the moment God had put in front of me to instead be racked with anxiety. I was so consumed with worry I forgot to experience the situation I was so worried about.
Now I tell you this story, not so that you throw caution to the wind and live life with no vigilance or mind to what could happen, but rather, I tell you this story to encourage you to focus on the future by, praying, preparing, and finally by trusting that in that preparation and in that prayer that God is in control and that God values us enough to take care of our future.
As you read Matthew 6:25-34, I encourage you to pray for our future, and in that prayer ask God to lead you to take a step of faith in this next season with our church. The future of Westbrook is brighter when each of us commits to trusting God and leaving worry behind. Because, when we leave worry behind, we can focus on wholeheartedly pursuing Him knowing that he will take care of our needs and our future.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What areas of your life are you holding onto doubt and worry?
How can you grow a spirit of trust in God for your life?
Do you trust God with the future of our church and with your role in that future?
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