It was commanded by Christ, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:24) This verse has been heard so many times, but how often do you and I worry about the events of the future especially as the new semester begins? We are plagued with thoughts such as, what will we study? What career will we pursue? Will we be successful? Will our parents be pleased? Will we pass our classes? Will we get married? Or will we become monks and nuns? What will we do to achieve “success”? And the questions go on and on. Though we have to be aware of how this kind of continuous worrying can keep us from God Himself.
In the book of Romans, it is said, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8: 16-17). From this we see that we are called to adoption to be the children of God. This is the great mystery and gift that we have granted through Christ’s incarnation, and the Baptism and Chrismation that we received. And not only this, but we are called to be heirs with God if we indeed suffer with Him. Likewise, a person who truly knows who they are in Christ and walks in the light of the Lord is less likely to doubt, less likely to be disturbed when things don’t go his or her way, less likely to find joy in passing things. Simply because this person trusts in the Lord, His promises, and whom He has shown Himself to be.
It is easy to say these things in theory but one’s faith does not grow overnight. One’s trust in the Lord is constantly exercised day by day as he or she goes to God and stands before Him in prayer and says, “Lord I believe but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Honesty with our Lord pleases Him and our good loving Father is quick to give us what we need if we ask. When the disciples thought they were perishing in the storm, they quickly went to our Lord and asked Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” His response was “peace be still”. A beautiful modern-day father says that our Lord was speaking this to both the sea and the fear in the hearts of the disciples. As the Creator, He spoke this peace to His creatures whom He made in His image and likeness as well as His creation. He went on to add the importance of this line that is said by the Priest in every liturgy, matins, vespers, etc., “Peace be with you all.” Whenever we cross ourselves in worship during this, we can remember this beautiful meditation that Christ Himself is the one who bestows us this peace in our hearts not as the world gives.
To acquire this peace, maybe we can dedicate some time, if even five minutes every day, sitting still in the presence of God. Maybe if we did this, we would understand this famous C.S. Lewis quotation, which states “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?” (Till We Have Faces). When we look to our Lord more and more every day, we become more like Him and slowly but surely, He reveals Himself to us. He corrects us, and He sends us the right people, events, circumstances, and advice that leads us closer to Him. That does not mean that our problems will cease, but rather that in the midst of the problem or the worry, I can rest assured that He is there with me, carrying Me, and doing the best that He can to ensure that I can live with Him eternally. Who am I to know better than Him?
Likewise, as St. Paul says, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12: 1-2). Thus, by looking to God every day, I gain endurance and hope remembering that “this too shall pass.” Let the Lord quiet you with His love and rest in Him alone. Even when some days may seem super difficult, look to Him and trust that He has not forgotten You as the Great Shepard has your name written in the palm of His hands.
Allah Allah allah