Often Jesus' instruction to us to not be anxious merely serves as something else about which we are anxious. On the other side - it still seems like there are opposing ways to go wrong - nd in a world in which we have put such a premium on providing for ourselves - er, letting God provide for us - both today and for the future solely via our industriousness and our prudence, they can seem like utter foolishness. Depending on others in any way is anathema to us.
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day." - Mt 6:34
Today I have been drawn to the first and last verses of the passage for his session. This section seems to further develop an important idea that Jesus included when teaching us to pray (as covered in session 4, though I didn't reflect on this verse because I was drawn elsewhere), which was itself rooted in the experience of the Israelites in the desert: Give us this day our daily bread (Mt 6:11). God very carefully taught his chosen people - and teaches us through their experience - that he will indeed provide for our needs on a daily basis. Here Jesus is perhaps speaking to those of us who carefully store up for our future without providing anything for those who are going hungry today.
There is another element to God's providence that I think we overlook, that we discussed at our men's group last week, as well. We can always rely on God to do his part - even if that often happens in ways that diverge from what we think his part should be - and this should provide us with the confidence we need to obey what he tells us to do. We often choose to provide for ourselves in ways which are clearly not God's plan/dream for us, because we don't see how God will provide for us, and in the process we interfere with God's perfect providence for both the immediate issue and our long-term needs.
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