Whispers And Wildflowers By Sarah Beth MarrSample

Day Six: Like The Birds

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-27, Philippians 4:6-7

Worry is something that threatens every heart. Today I want to dive a little bit deeper into Jesus’ call to not worry. This is difficult. Trying hard to not worry often has the opposite effect on us—we worry more! Yet Jesus gives us this radical instruction to not worry. I believe we are willing to not worry, but how do we do so when the world we live in and the realities we face every day give us much to fret about? 

I love how Jesus points to the simplest things to teach us the hardest lessons. Here in Matthew, He points to the birds of the sky to teach us the life-giving lesson that we don’t have to worry about our lives. When Jesus says, “consider the birds,” He invites us to recognize that He knows what He’s doing. We hover over our situations, worrying and trying to handle things, and we even try to help God along in a way. 

God wants us to step out of the way and let Him handle our worries. He talks about how the birds don’t sow or reap or gather in barns. They aren’t planning out their lives and scrambling to make sure they have enough of what they need from day to day. Now, I don’t think that means we don’t have to plan or save up or be smart about our lives. Instead, it’s an invitation to lean on God’s sufficiency and grace. And to trust that He’s going to give us what we need for this day. 

The more we know God, the more space we make for Him to fill up our hearts and the more we will default to trusting Him instead of worrying. It’s another dance, and one that you are learning more about even today. You will stumble; so will I. But in these places of quiet—as well as in the busy of the day—He faithfully whispers to our hearts that He can be trusted. I want you to taste the joy and freedom of life with Him, entrusting your worries to Him. A person dependent on their Maker lives like the birds—they fly, they enjoy beauty, they do their thing, and they trust their care to the God of the universe. 

What worries are you ready to fully turn over to God? What worry is hardest for you to relinquish? Why?