Mensa Otabil - Why Do You Worry
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We started a week talking about Elijah and his loneliness as he fled for his life. We've talked about where we go to when we feel lonely, where our refuge is, and what we trust in. We end with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 6, verses 28 and 29. "Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Lilies grow from a deep root, and although their flowers look very fragile on the surface, their roots are very, very deep. It is from the roots that they bring forth their flowers. Lilies have a way of surviving even when it is dry on top of the soil because their roots are able to find water and rich nutrients down below. Jesus talks about the lilies of the field, and he recommends the lilies to us.
This means that if our roots are deep -if our roots are deep in Him, the Lord will nourish us and cause us to flourish even in the desert. It's no wonder that He's called the Lily of the Valley; in a place where there is no life, the lily thrives because its roots are deep. When we trust in the Lord, we cease from toiling, and in faith, He supplies all our needs and sustains us. Lilies do not adorn themselves; they don't spin. Jesus says they don't weave, but look at how beautiful they are! Then He asks the question, "Don't you think that God can do better with you than the lilies?" Of course, He can, and He will.
So, when life hits us badly, when we are buffeted, when we feel lonely, when we feel that everything is going against us, when the world has become very hard, and the cost of living is tough, just take a pause, relax, and get your roots deep in the Lord and trust Him. Because if you trust Him and hold on to Him, you don't need to toil for Him to provide for you. He is able to provide for you because of the nourishment that is in Him, which comes because you are planted in Him.
Today, the Lord is assuring all of us that if He can clothe the flowers, if He can make them beautiful, He can make our lives beautiful too. If the Lord can take care of the birds of the air, He can take care of you too. If the Lord can provide for tiny little ants so they don't die of starvation, the Lord will take care of you too. He tells us, "If I can do that, trust me that I will do it for you." If He can do it for animals and plants, He will do it for you.
Today, I just want to encourage you and assure you that God is in charge of your life, and He has not left you. God's hand is upon you, and His hand is not removed from you. You may feel pain, but God's hand is upon you. You may feel distressed, but God's hand is upon you. You may feel that everybody is abandoning you, but God's hand is upon you. By His hand, He will provide for you; by His hand, He will be your refuge; by His hand, He will be your help and your shelter. May the Lord God whom you have trusted keep you from all evil, protect you, preserve you, and give you victory in the coming week, in Jesus' name.
Let us pray. Say with me, "Heavenly Father, You are my provider. Thank You for surrounding me with good things. In Jesus' name, Amen and amen."