Worry and Grace
This is an audio recording of Worry and Grace, the Day 2 entry in Today for Seafarers (Vol. 1) devotional by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Sheila Margerrison or read the text below:
“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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I once met a seafarer who was deeply concerned for his family. He had two children, one of whom had a mental disability. I asked him if it was difficult to care for his child as his nine-month contracts kept him away from home for so long every year. “Yes,” he replied, “but I am not really worried for him.” “What do you mean?” I said. “Well, I am not worried because it is not only me who takes care of him, but also my wife—and especially God.”
That seafarer had a good attitude. It is one thing to be concerned about our loved ones and think about them often, but quite another to worry about them. Worrying is, in a way, trying to mentally control what is uncontrollable. We do not know what tomorrow may bring, so we cannot control it.
However, the Bible reveals that there is someone who definitely controls the future. The God of Scripture knows the route we will take before we begin on it. Therefore, we can trust that he will guide us.
The problem with worry is that it can consume all our thoughts and emotions. We think so much about the “what ifs” of life that we cannot live with freedom and joy in the moment. When we trust that God will take care of us in the future, we can have confidence to live today without worry.
For Further Thought
What difference does it make today that we know God will care for us in the future?
Can you remember a time when your worry consumed all your thoughts and emotions? What happened?
How can we rely on God’s promises more and worry less?
Prayer
Dear Lord, you have created me in your image. I confess that I often forget you are in control of my life. I thank you that you take care of me every day. Help me to live a life that glorifies you. Also, please take care of me on ship and my family back home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
