One of my favorite sayings is:
I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.
Over and over again, God instructs us not to worry about tomorrow. It isn’t wise to live in the past, nor in the future; we can’t change the past, and have no idea what the future will bring. Of course, we should always be doing our best to be responsible and prepared for the future. It doesn’t mean to give it no thought and throw caution to the wind. But it is so important to remember that the Lord holds tomorrow. He knows exactly what will happen and there is no element of our future that isn’t planned out or completely in His control. Nothing can surprise Him; nothing can happen unless He allows it.
Yet we so often spend ridiculous amounts of time worrying about the future, which is unwise for numerous reasons:
God is in control of the future, and He loves us and always has our best interest in mind. Nothing can happen unless He allows it. Absolutely everything is in His control, and He promises to provide for us, guide us, and never leave us.
● In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. Psalm 95:4
● He upholds the universe by the word of His power. Hebrews 1:3
● The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
● Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Matthew 10:29
We are not promised tomorrow, & can never know what the future will bring, so we should focus on today without worrying or being foolish enough to think that we can plan out our future.
● Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1
Worrying never changes anything. Living in the future only makes us miss out on the present.
● Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:25-27
The only thing we can change is today, and it’s the only wise use of our mental and physical energy. There is plenty to focus on each day, & we should address those needs versus expelling our energy on hypothetical scenarios of the future.
● Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
Worry comes from the enemy, not the Lord. The Lord tells us to trust Him fully, not to worry, to never have fear nor doubts. But Satan whispers lies in our ears. He is constantly deceiving us. He wants to trick us into thinking the Lord doesn’t really have everything in control, or that He wants to punish us and hurt us. He wants worry to consume us, paralyze us, and make us lose hope and not exercise full faith and trust in the Lord.
● The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
If we are obediently following Him and seeking His will, we have absolutely nothing to worry about. We can be certain that the future is in His hands and will unfold according to His perfect, sovereign, loving plans. So live each day with strength and courage knowing that He holds us, the world, all of creation, the present, and the future firmly in His hands.