A Focus on Him

DO NOT WORRY - GOD'S PROVISION

PHOTO AND WRITING BY LILLIAN CUCUZZA

Everybody worries about something. Even Jesus’ disciples worried. On one occasion, the disciples worried how they would feed more than five thousand people who came to hear Jesus speak. They only had five loaves of bread and two fish, were in a remote place, and it was getting late. Where could they possibly go for enough food at that hour? How were they going to pay for it? They wanted Jesus to send those people away to buy their own food. (Matthew 14:15, NIV)

Worry takes a toll on us physically. It causes anxiety. It makes sleep difficult. It changes our eating habits and even makes us sick. It immobilizes us. It consumes our thoughts. It negatively affects our work and efficiency. It influences how we treat others. Worst of all, it diminishes our ability to depend on and trust in God.

Knowing the devastating effects that worry creates, Jesus told His disciples (and us) at the Sermon on the Mount not to worry. He said, 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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25-33 NIV)

God’s provision is everywhere at every turn. We just need to recognize and acknowledge it as His provision. Just look at how God provided the dew for the Blueflag Iris and grass to grow and bloom, and at the same time, provided pollen and nectar as food for the bumblebee, which will also use the pollen to perpetuate the cycle and spread that beauty for all of us to continue to enjoy. That bumblebee will eventually become provision for some other creature in the food chain at the appointed time.

God cares about all the details. If He cares that much for the plants and animals, you can trust that He will care even more for you. He not only provides for the flowers and birds, He also provides for us.

Turn your worries over to God. He knows your needs. He wants you to depend on and trust in Him completely. He is Jehovah Jireh, your Provider. We see this when Jesus turns the disciples’ worry of having too little into too much when He feeds the five thousand using only five loaves of bread and two fish having more than enough leftovers. Matthew tells us, They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (14:20-21 NIV)