We are prone to anxiety day in and day out, sometimes with good reason. “Will I be able to pay the bills this month?” “Will I be able to bear the criticism if I do the right thing?” The list goes on.

Jesus points out that the root of anxiety is most often earthly, temporal things — food, water, clothing — and instructs us to simply look to Creation to relieve our worries.

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? ~Matthew 6:30

We’re not to be naive about things like material provision (“the bills will just pay themselves!”) but we are also not to be anxious, as though God doesn’t know what we need. He knows even before we ask!

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. ~Matthew 6:32-33

The same principle applies when we’re struggling through other trials. I’m reminded of a great song by Mark Shultz called He Will Carry Me:

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I have never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said You’d see me through the storm

And even though I’m walking
Through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me

God never promised His people ease and comfort (see John 15:19), but He does promise to carry us through the storm.

We, of all people, have no reason to be worried.