Matthew 6:34 says not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have enough trouble of its own.
It’s true. I’ve thought about this a lot.
The trouble, that is. I think about the trouble of tomorrow way too much—and I always have.
And I have always turned to different outlets and sources of relief for my anxiety. The good: Journaling. Music. Writing. Therapy. The bad: Relationships that couldn’t “fix” me. The Ugly: Alcohol. Party culture at college.
Through the good, the bad, and the ugly, something always felt missing. Even during the best of times, I felt incomplete.
That’s why, when I first started dating my now-husband, the same thing was true. I was happy, but I was still worried. I felt like something was missing. There was something tugging at my heart. So, I asked him about that cross he wore around his neck. And everything changed.
Renewed Through Christ
My journey towards a relationship with Jesus began at different moments throughout my life. But I really took it seriously starting in 2018. Throughout the next several months, I learned and explored and grew closer to God. And in mid-2019, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, publicly sharing it with the world through baptism.
Baptism is a symbol of proclaiming the gospel message, the water expressing our new life in Christ. I want to take the time to talk a little bit about what this actually means, through the book of Matthew. I am by no means an expert, but I hope I can shed some light on the good news of Jesus for anyone reading this today.
The Book of Matthew: What is the Gospel?
The book of Matthew is one of four gospels in the Bible.
Matthew was a tax collector whose priorities completely shifted when he met Jesus. He trusted in Jesus, listened to His teachings, witnessed His works, and decided to follow Him wholeheartedly. Then, he committed the rest of his life to sharing Jesus with others and helping others follow Jesus.
The book of Matthew is an eyewitness account of the life and teachings of Jesus — and also an authoritative Word of God given to help us know and follow Jesus ourselves.
(Fun fact: My church is spending the entire rest of 2021 studying the Book of Matthew. You can tune in live on their Facebook or YouTube page every Sunday at 10 AM ET!).
In a nutshell, the gospel is this:
Jesus, God in human flesh, lived a perfect and sinless life. But, despite this, he was punished and crucified, bearing the weight of all sin on the cross. Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. As sinners who fall short of God’s perfection, we deserve death, but in His grace God offers us eternal life and forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice in our place.
This is the story and gospel of Christ. If you believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, confess your sins, and ask for forgiveness, you will be saved. Matthew’s specific gospel is all about explaining this good news of Jesus and how we can live our lives as we love and trust in Christ.
It’s important to clarify that it’s not about works or deeds. It’s about loving and trusting Jesus, who transforms our lives. Only through Him can we live better. As humans, we will fail, but if we confess and repent and try every day to be better by following Jesus, we have forgiveness and grace.
Matthew 6
Matthew chapter six, which is where the “Do not worry about tomorrow” verse comes from, covers a wide variety of topics. It’s in the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He talks about how His followers should live.
Some of these topics include not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing when you’re giving to those in need. He teaches how to pray through the Lord’s Prayer. He talks about laying up your treasures in Heaven instead of earth. All important truths that followers of Christ are called to obey. Again, this is not a list of advice that Jesus is providing so we can lead better lives. It’s what happens when you face a true heart transformation by believing and trusting in Jesus. By following him and truly living his way.
There will be times where we as humans fall short. But the good news is that Jesus already lived this perfect, sinless life. He defeated sin and death. It is already done. So, through Him, and only Him, we are renewed.
Matthew 6:34
Matthew 6:34 is the final part of chapter six.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
#1. God is in control
There is nothing I can do to save myself or be better myself. We are called to love and trust and follow Him, to live in His way, because He has already done the work. He already knows what tomorrow will bring. And He will be with me during it. So, don’t worry about tomorrow. It has already been taken care of.
#2. So do not worry
When I worry, I am carrying tomorrow’s burdens on my shoulders. I am trying to take control over what has already been taken care of. God provides enough grace to get us through each day. And Christ has already carried my burdens on the cross. Who am I to take that back, after He already sacrificed His life for my sins and my fears? So, I can cast my cares and my fears to Him and trust every moment is in His hands.
Conclusion
Matthew 6:34 is much more than a command. It’s a truth—a promise. If you trust and love Jesus, you do not have to worry about tomorrow. You do not have to worry about anything because He will be with you always.
It’s important not to take single verses out of the context of the chapter and Bible as a whole, which is why I zoomed out to look at the big picture of the gospel in this blog. But, it’s still a great verse to remember and a true takeaway: Do not worry about tomorrow.
A lot of my poetry explores different fears. Fear of being alone. Fear of something bad happening to those I love. Poetry is a way for me to recognize these fears, close the piece of paper they are written on, and lay them at the foot of the cross.
The idea of Safer In The Pillow Fort is honest, and as I write this I am literally inside a cozy fort we made in our living room.
But really, we are Safer In God’s Arms. And they are open wide.
So proud of you – can’t wait to read your book!
Thanks so much, Aunt Lisa!