Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing.

(Matthew 6:25 NIV)

The story is told of a man who visited his psychologist and said, “Doc, I’m having trouble sleeping. These strange dreams keep waking me up.”

The doctor leaned in and asked, “What kind of dreams?”

“One night I dreamed I was a wigwam. The next night, I dreamed I was a teepee.”

The doctor nodded thoughtfully. “Your problem is simple.  You’re two tents!”

<Insert groan here>

As bad as that pun is, it touches on something many of us deal with — being too tense.  Tension and stress seem to be part of daily life. We live in an age of advanced technology and time-saving devices, but instead of feeling more relaxed, we feel more pressure.  

We rush through our days with bills to pay, deadlines to meet, health concerns, family responsibilities, and global news that never seems to bring good tidings.  It all piles up — and we carry it on our shoulders, day after day.

But into our anxious hearts, Jesus speaks a calming message: “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32 NIV)

Jesus doesn’t deny our needs — he names them. But then he reminds us that we are not alone in facing them.  We have a Father who sees, knows, and cares. The one who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies knows exactly what we need — and he invites us to trust him.

Stress focuses on what’s immediate and overwhelming. Faith reminds us who’s in control.  And when we trust God with our needs, we gain something the world can’t offer: peace in the middle of the pressure.

So today, when your heart starts racing and your thoughts begin to spiral, slow down and remember:  You’re not forgotten.  You’re not alone. You are loved by a faithful Father.

Prayer: Father, when life feels overwhelming and I grow anxious and tense, draw me back to you. Calm my heart. Remind me that you are faithful, you are with me, and that you will always meet all of my needs. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day