Do you ever read Scripture and find yourself wondering, “is the Bible relevant today?” We definitely feel that disconnect. So we’ve set out to make Scripture meditations that give us a framework for how to start reading the Bible. Join us as we let the Bible be the Bible, and learn to engage with it meaningfully.
Trusting God in Difficult Times
Student loans. Rent. Balancing your work schedule with your class schedule. For most of us, it feels like the older we get, the list of things to worry about just keeps getting longer.
Jesus tells his followers “not to worry” about their lives. Easy for them—they didn’t have college debt or exams. They just had to catch some fish and chill. Often trusting God in difficult times sounds so much easier than it is. Sometimes it’s not as easy as finding the perfect “Top 10 Bible verses to calm anxiety.” It’s not our first impulse to turn to God in prayer when stressed. And yet, Jesus cuts straight to the chase, asking us, “Has worrying ever gotten you anywhere?” In the midst of all the things that stress us out, we find an invitation; Jesus asks us to trust that our heavenly Father, who has gotten us this far, will keep taking care of us.
Matthew 6:25-27
25 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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Observations from the Text
- There’s more to life than things (v. 25)
- God cares for us more than anything in the world (v. 26)
- Worrying doesn’t solve the thing we’re worried about (v. 27)
Prayers of Response
Provider, when I don’t think I have enough, I tend to try to get _________ for myself.
Father, sometimes I don’t think you care that much about me because of _________.
Prayer Requests
Jesus, right now I’m desperately in need of _________.
Lord who calms the storms, watch over me while I’m in the middle of _________.
Prayers of Readiness
God, I know that _________ is feeling really anxious right now. Show me how I can love them well today.
Holy Spirit, give me the gift of faith, so I can let go of _________ and to trust where you’re leading me.
Reflection:
- Does thinking about the future make you excited? Or nervous?
- When you think about your future, what’s one detail that consistently makes you anxious?
- Deep down, do you think God cares about your worries? Why or why not?
- Take a few minutes today to find a bird to watch, and consider Jesus’ words about how much more God cares about you.
Reading the Bible through Scripture meditations can be an easy way of connecting with God each day. For more Scripture meditations, visit this page!
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
