Inflation has a way of making us feel like we are losing control of our lives. Groceries cost more, gas prices fluctuate, utility bills keep climbing, and somehow the income never seems to stretch as far as it once did. Just in the past 2-3 months, my husband and I have gone from spending maybe $100 every two weeks on groceries. Now it has doubled. Our utility bill nearly doubled this month over last month’s. We lie awake wondering how everything is going to get paid and what will happen if something unexpected comes along. Before long, our minds become consumed with figuring out how we are going to make it through tomorrow.
But have you ever stopped to consider that God never intended for you to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? You were never meant to be your own savior!
Jesus used a simple example to teach us something very important. He pointed to the birds and reminded us that they don’t plant crops, harvest fields, or store food in barns, yet our Heavenly Father feeds them. Then He asked a question that should make us stop and think: “Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). God included this in His Word because He wants you to pause and think about that for a moment. The God who created the universe knows when a little bird needs food, and He certainly knows what you need. He takes care of something as small as a bird, do you really believe He has forgotten about you?
Sometimes we act as though everything depends on us. We worry, we calculate, we plan, and then we worry some more. We convince ourselves that if we don’t figure everything out, everything will fall apart. Now, that doesn’t mean we should be careless with our money or stop being responsible. God expects us to be good stewards of what He provides. But there is a difference between being responsible and believing we are entirely responsible for our own survival. One requires wisdom; the other is an exhausting attempt to take God’s place. We can make plans, work hard, and do our part, but we must remember that our provision ultimately comes from the Lord.
Jesus also gave us this wonderful promise: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Notice that He didn’t say we would never have financial difficulties. He didn’t promise that prices would never rise or that unexpected expenses would never come. He told us where our priorities should be and whom we should trust. Our security cannot be built on the size of our bank account, the amount of money in our savings, or the stability of the economy. Those things can change overnight. But our Heavenly Father never changes! He knows what we need before we even ask, and He is never caught off guard by the circumstances that catch us by surprise.
So the next time you open a bill that makes your stomach turn, or stand in a grocery store wondering how everything became so expensive, remind yourself who is taking care of you. You have a Father who sees you, knows you, and loves you. Stop trying to carry tomorrow’s burdens today. Do what you can with what God has given you, ask Him for wisdom, and trust Him with what you cannot control. Your worth is not measured by your income, and your security is not determined by the economy. You are valuable to Jesus Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth. The same God who feeds the birds has not forgotten His children. You don’t have to be your own savior when you already have a Saviour!
A thought to carry with you today: If God can take care of the birds without them worrying about tomorrow, perhaps it’s time we stopped acting as though everything depends on us.
Trust your Father. He already knows what you need.
