Tomorrow will care for itself.

The precious words of the Lord:
"'No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
'For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
'So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'" (St. Matthew 6:24-34 NASB)

I have been contemplating the above passage quite a bit lately, and also many times in the past. Usually when I ponder such passages I am lead to cry out: "Lord I believe; help my unbelief!" or even more simply, "Lord have mercy!" Yes, mercy is what I need most of all, mercy from which forgiveness flows. For I am a sinner, but wherever there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation! In faith I know that not one sparrow falls without the Father's knowledge, and I am worth more to Him than many sparrows, and I cling to that promise. That faith is created and sustained as a response to my Father's mercy, shown through His wondrous words and works.

Yet constantly I am attacked by the devil, the world, and my sinful nature, which all tempt me into doubt and toward the point of despair. Lately this has been very poignant in my search for a job. I had expected to have a job within a week or two of the beginning of the semester, but here I am, more than month later, unemployed. I cannot deny that I have often been plagued by doubts throughout this job-hunting process. I have had doubts about whether I would ever get a job, or be able to support myself or my wife. Oh me of little faith! These doubts are nothing less than doubts about my Father's love and promised provision.

From discussions with my friends of late, it is apparent to me that I am not at all alone. Everyone, including my Christian brothers, seems to be temped to doubt God's provision and worry not only about what to eat, drink, or wear, but about much more trivial things besides. It's hard to believe that tomorrow will care for itself (or rather that our heavenly Father, Who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, will care for it), and so we worry about our tomorrows constantly, meanwhile wasting our "todays." As a matter of fact, temptations to think in this way are to be expected! We can be quite certain that crosses and temptations will be laid upon all of us who are united in Christ's death. Indeed we are likely to be more prone to suffering than nonbelievers!

Inasmuch as we have been united in the death of Christ, however, we have also been united in His glorious resurrection and life! The temptation and the suffering that we find our selves dealing with have already been dealt with by our Lord and Savior, along with all of our sins and failures to withstand temptation and suffering. This ought to be a cause of great joy amid our suffering, and even, in a sense, because of our suffering, for God's strength is made perfect in our own weakness. This is the reminder that I need to hear, as many times as I am tempted to doubt God's promises, and even in times when I do not. Not because by being joyful or resolving myself to stop worrying I will have solved all of my problems, but because all of my problems are already solved in Christ. I need not worry about the needs of my earthly life on the one hand because God has promised to provide me with them, and on the other hand because even if food, drink, clothing, shoes, and all others be gone, the devil yet has nothing won, for my life is not found in these things, but hidden, safe and sound, with Christ forever.

As I am tempted to doubt, and led by the devil's hand to the brink of despair, I must be reminded, as the passage says, to "Seek first the Kingdom of God." My heavenly Father invites and leads me in faith to His Kingdom by showing me the foolishness of my doubt, revealing the truth of His loving mercy, turning my despairing heart to hope and repentance, forgiving my sins, and picking me back up with renewed faith for the entire ordeal. All good things are then added to that greatest gift of Christ's own place in the Kingdom, as the Lord sees fit. I may not have everything I want every day, but I am always blessed with my daily bread, most importantly the living Bread of life, and I can accept what I am given with a humble heart and a spirit of thanksgiving.

So keep your promises Lord, and help me in my doubt and unbelief! I know that You do, for I have been surrounded all my life, during every struggle and temptation, by people who are happy to remind me of your grace, mercy, and love, and Your Word is always a lamp to my feet and light to my path. I trust that your Word and promises will never be taken away, and with that, in faith, I shall be content. Not my foolish will, but Your holy, good, and gracious will alone, Father, be done.
Amen.

-Zach