Man. You know when you dwell on something for so long... think about it in high school it's starting to drive, homecoming, prom, graduation, etc. Then in college it's spring break with friends, a three week break between semesters, whatever sweet plans your summer consists of, graduating, finding a job, starting a life as a "real person". If we are honest with ourselves and evaluate how much time we spend thinking, planning, and preparing for something in the future, I think we'd all find that it's an overwhelming amount. Here's my question: When we are planning and thinking about the future, what are we doing with today? I'm so guilty of this.
Jeff and I have been praying, thinking, preparing, planning, visiting, and coordinating all the fine details of our move to Hilton Head since December 20th, 2010. We are finally moving in
three days. The day we have given so much of our time to, in order to be ready, is
finally here. As I sit in my living room surrounded by boxes and clutter, I wonder what I might have missed out on these passed
seven months.
It's such a difficult concept because we are called to serve, and in order to serve there must be a plan and a mission. In Matthew 6, we are also told to
flee from worry.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
I believe there is such a fine line between the two ideas or worry and preparation, and I admit that I fall on either side of that line when it comes to events in my life. I need to be prepared for what is to come, but at what point does my eagerness and willingness to be prepared become twisted or contorted into worry? "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" wow. No, I sure can't, and I sure didn't.
As we are in our final moments of preparation I think, finally, we feel ready... we have three more days until we go to our new mission field and fight. Regardless of the past seven months the Lord has given us a direct mission and forgiven us of our worry and any regrets we may have. I tell God constantly that I'm not prepared, I stress out about little details involving my new job as a teacher... And he remind me over and over that I need only to seek Him.
Ready? (hard to say), Set? (maybe, probably not), Go!
This is all the Lord requires of us, is that we go, no matter how capable, fit, confident, or prepared we may feel. There's no need for us to worry, He will handle all the details.
