The sun was coming in the bottom of the open window, and from the small bit of sky that I could see, it was clear and blue. The forecast had indicated 70s today, and since I live in a high desert state, very little humidity. An absolutely lovely day, by almost anyone’s definition!
But instead of focusing on the glorious day, or even taking a moment to thank God for it, I rolled away from the window and scrunched my eyes closed. And my thoughts began to race. Not in prayer, but in fear and anxiety. My mind, unbidden, began to focus on a week from now, and all that I was going to have to do in a very short time.
I was thinking about how there was going to be “stuff” in every nook and cranny, and how were we (me and my husband, my sister and hers) going to sort through it all and pare it down drastically to make it comfortable for my parents as we move them from the house of 30 years to a two-bedroom first-floor apartment?
“When was the last time those magazines had even been looked at? Could we just get rid of them, or do we have to ask first? And what’s in the hall cupboards? Can we toss stuff from the kitchen?”
I caught myself, and so I began to pray.
“Lord, help me start my morning with You, not with a to-do list for a week that hasn’t even arrived yet.”
That worked for about five minutes. Then I realized I was already thinking about who I needed to contact tomorrow and what I needed to follow up on next.
Agh!
Again, I gently pulled my thoughts back: “Start the day with God.”
Finally, I threw myself out of bed, hoping that by sitting in my chair where I have my morning devotions, it would help me focus on the Lord and not my to-dos.
I’ve always been someone who loves a list. Actually, I love the checkmark I make when I take something off my list. But lately — especially this week — the Holy Spirit has been showing me that my constant focus on my list was beginning to crowd out my priorities: God first, family second, ministry third.
In the case of moving our parents, that would be #2 and #3 combined. But still, God is to come first!
Not only that, but I was missing a beautiful morning because I was so distracted by everything waiting ahead of me. What I could have done was take my coffee and my prayers outside and sit in the beauty of the morning. Instead, I was mentally racing down the path of what was coming later this week.
I realized I wasn’t really living in today at all. I was already emotionally living in next week.
One of the hardest things about living with emotional pain, mental health struggles, chronic illness, or overwhelming life circumstances is that our minds constantly run ahead.
We don’t just carry today’s pain, tasks, or fears. We carry tomorrow’s too.
What if this gets worse?
What if I never feel better?
What if I can’t handle what’s coming?
What if this situation never changes?
But Jesus speaks directly into that spiral of future-focused fear:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” — Matthew 6:34
Notice something important: Jesus does not deny that today has trouble.
He simply reminds us that God only asks us to carry today’s portion.
There is a difference between preparing wisely for the future and emotionally living there. Many of us spend enormous amounts of energy suffering through imagined tomorrows while missing the grace and beauty that God is giving us right now.
God’s pattern throughout Scripture is daily dependence.
- Daily bread.
- Daily mercy.
- Daily strength.
When God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, He gave them enough for one day at a time. Not because He wanted them anxious, but because He wanted them dependent. Trust grows in daily surrender.
Lamentations tells us:
“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”
Not all at once for the next ten years.
New every morning.
Sometimes we think:
“I can’t do this for another year.”
“I can’t survive this forever.”
Maybe not.
But perhaps God is only asking you to trust Him for today.
Just today.
Today, you can breathe.
Today, you can pray.
Today, you can ask for help.
Today, you can rest.
Today, you can take the next small step.
And when tomorrow comes, God’s mercy will meet you there too.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24
Not because today is perfect.
Not because life is easy.
But because God is still present in it.
Maybe hope sometimes looks less like solving the future and more like staying present with God today.
Peggy has been involved with Fresh Hope as a Group Facilitator for over 8 years and as the Hope Coach Trainer for over 6 years. She can be reached at peggy@freshhope.us.
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