Anxiety? Surely Not!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Some of the passages I read in the Scriptures are very difficult, actually most of them. This morning, in reading over a portion of Matthew 6, I came across some good example; listen to these: “Do not be anxious for your life”; “Why are you anxious about clothing”; “Do not be anxious then, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ . . .”; and finally, “Do not be anxious for tomorrow.” You might find these easy to obey; however, this not-so-humble servant get anxious, even thinking about not being anxious, especially regarding such things as life, clothing, food, drink and, especially, tomorrow!
Now, don’t get me wrong; for some reason, I have already enjoyed 67 rather healthy years, never had to go naked, never missed a meal, and never been without water, and I have made it through all of my tomorrows, except of course the ones that are yet to come. Someone did tell me that tomorrow never comes, which is true, I suppose; even so, I am looking forward to many more “tomorrows.” I just wish I could say that I am looking forward to them with eager anticipation and no anxiety, but, well, but.
This really makes me anxious: “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NASB). It is the “each day has enough trouble of its own” that gives me the hebbie jeebies! There is no wonder I can get a bit anxious about tomorrow!
No, I am not so anxious that I am taking Xanax—never have been that anxious—but for the life of me, I cannot understand why Jesus could expect us to live in a state of such tranquility, especially in light of the fact that each day has enough trouble of its own. Yes, I know that He told us to consider the birds and the lilies and Solomon and the grass. He even told us that He knows what we need, but I still cannot meet the standard.
He did tell us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and then ALL these things will be added to us. Maybe this is my problem: I can’t even get my priorities straight. I do wonder, however, if I would not be a bit anxious, even if He added “all these things” to my life. The truth is, they have already been added to my life—and then some—and I can still be a bit anxious.
There is no getting around it: I need a Savior 24-7!