‘Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.’ Luke 12:22-32(NLT)
My wife Laura and I lived in Aberdeen, Scotland when I was researching emotions. We loved the fields of daffodils in the spring. In Aberdeen, with its temperate and rainy climate, these flowers multiplied endlessly. Whole parks or expressway exit ramps would turn daffodil-yellow through a grass carpet.
Building on the community’s enthusiasm for the flower, we planted spring bulbs in our tiny garden at the back of our flat (apartment). The second spring, as the hills and parks exploded in yellow, our garden was a brown dirt mess. Our small flat came with a gardener, an elderly Scotsman with an accent so thick we had trouble understanding him. He should have fertilized and taken care of the garden, right? Sharing our distress, our neighbor confided in us, “Your gardener dug up your bulbs and took them to plant somewhere else.” Our gardener turned out to be a bulb thief!
In a hard times, I am often tempted to think of providence like it is my Scottish gardener. I think about things gone that I thought I deserved, things broken that I thought needed fixing, or health damaged that I thought was healed. What is my master-gardener doing?
Jesus’s words in Matthew show us the true character of our gardener. Unlike our Scottish friend, we can understand his words clearly. Our gardener is not a thief. He can be trusted. God cares to clothe even the lilies and feed even the birds. Surely, he cares more about us! God will faithfully cultivate, prune, and fertilize to get the best and boldest show of daffodil-yellow.
To live fearless in a fearful world, we return to where we started. Even when it is winter, before the bulbs come up through the snow, we can trust God is planting good things beneath the surface. Even when we feel like Jesus facing the cross in the garden, we don’t need to worry. We can trust the love and provision of our master gardener, our loving Father.
Today:
Instead of worrying about our needs, Jesus tells us to focus on God’s kingdom. Ask God what his priorities are for you today, and focus on those.
from Live Fear-Free: A Practical Biblical Guide