Friday, March 2, 2012

More Than a Bird


Credit: Mom

So, if you couldn't tell from my last post, I've been a little anxious lately. Well, actually, a lot anxious lately. It goes beyond not taking a Sabbath and being behind in school. I realized a couple days ago that I only have two more months in grad school. Can you believe it? Two months, and then I'm done. I'll have a Master of Divinity with all its responsibilities and privileges, or whatever they say when they confer degrees on you.

That means two months to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. I know that I want to be a church planter. God has been gracious enough to give me that much information. I just don't know where or with whom. This week I've talked to several church planting strategists and planters from across the country. I still don't have a strong leaning in any direction, well, maybe one direction, but we'll talk about that later if it pans out. In two months, I'll be homeless and jobless, and I feel like I have to figure it all out today.

Then, I was reading my friend's blog this afternoon and she was talking about her own struggles with life after graduation. Her words made me think of these words:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not 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? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:24-35, ESV).

I hear that Jesus was a pretty smart guy. So, while I won't stop thinking about the future and what it might hold, I'm not going to be anxious. God knows that I need food and a place to live and a car that runs and money to pay for it all. He's got it worked out. I just need to continue focusing on the important things like growing in my relationship with God and helping others to do the same. I pray that this week you will also focus on what is most important, knowing that God provides for those who seek him.