Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Our Verse of the Day today is probably one of the most significant verses I talk to people about when they discuss anxiety and stress and depression, even suicidal thoughts. This verse doesn’t speak to every situation, but I do believe it speaks into some of the most significant situations where people are really struggling. But this is also practical to all of us, no matter where we are and if we struggle with those things or not.
I am looking forward to sharing this with you, because I've seen this touch my own home. I've just seen some of this being played out and lived out. That is a burden that people carry around that is significantly impacting who they are and what they're able to accomplish and how they're able to live out their life and what they're called to do.
It's found in Matthew chapter 6, verse 34. It says, "'So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.'"
News and Predictions About Tomorrow
If you've noticed, there's so much banter nowadays about the news, what's going on in the news, who's reporting what, and how it's being reported. I'm not going to get into that. One thing I do want to focus on is—and I think you'll understand this—a lot of news has shifted from reporting what has happened, and now they're predicting what will happen. Have you noticed that?
I love sports, and even in the sports world, it's not necessarily talking about what's happened or the stories. It's actually predicting: this is what's going to happen because of this team getting this player, or this is how it's going to end up in the Super Bowl that we're predicting this coming year, or a variety of different other things. It's amazing where we kind of launch into this whole prediction of tomorrow. But isn't it true that we tend to do that?
Take a Break from the News
I have cautioned people before and said, "You know what? At some point, there are times you must to take a break from the news or even other things going on, because you're starting to place the burden of what's going on in the news or what people are saying is going to happen. You're placing tomorrow on your shoulders, and you were not built for that."
There's great power in understanding what God is saying, what Jesus is saying in this verse. Today's struggles are enough. We don't have to take on yesterday. We don't have to take on tomorrow. I've watched the burden be lifted off of people when they realize, okay, I can handle today.
Playing Out the Future
Even though all the things that are going on today—the email that I got, the letter I got, maybe the court filing you got or the check that didn't come in the mail, or so many other things that are going on today—we immediately imagine the implications of the future. I get it. It's so real because we start playing out scenarios.
I've actually had God convict me because I'm the type where something will happen and I'll start playing out scenarios because I just am constantly thinking about things: Well, what if this happens? What if that happens? Because I'm analyzing how this is going to work and what I need to be prepared for. God's had to convict me as well that even when it's a good thing—something good will happen and say, oh, God's moving in this way, this is the way it's going to go.
I'll tell you what—whether it's good or bad, I rarely have ever seen things play out the way I thought they were going to play out, both good and bad.
The Key Is the Good Shepherd
Here's the key to this. This is a part I really want you to capture. The key to this is not yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Now you may say, well, I thought you were saying just focus on today? The verse says focus on today. Here's the key: If you're following the Good Shepherd, now it's just about trusting who's leading you. It's not necessarily about where He is going because we've all done that. Wait a second—someone else is driving—wait, you missed the turn. You need to go there. You need to go there. This doesn't look right.
We can do that in our daily lives with what's going on. We start seeing things developing, seeing what's going on. The key to this verse is Jesus is the one saying this. He is the Good Shepherd. The key to this verse is it's not about yesterday, today, or tomorrow. It's actually about the presence of the Good Shepherd in our lives, and just being committed to following Him.
Trust the Good Shepherd
If you trust Him, wherever He leads you, that is the focal point. Then it's not about what happened yesterday. It's not about tomorrow. Because, you know, if you trust the Good Shepherd, He is going to lead you through no matter what you're going through, and you can trust Him with it.
Release the worry to Him. Trust the Good Shepherd and just focus on following Him.
