Work and pressure
Bills, pay, what you do not have. Worry about money is adult and real — it still lies when it says you are forgotten. God knows today’s need. You may do what you can with what you have, and ask for today’s bread instead of the whole year’s spreadsheet.
See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
What it means
The birds do not plan — yet they are fed. You are more than they. The worry about 'how will it go' is lying when it says you are forgotten.
How you can live it
When worry about 'how will it go' takes over: look out. You are more than the bird. Ask for today's bread, not for the whole year.
Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
What it means
You do not have to carry two days at once. Tomorrow will take its own worry when it comes. Today, what is in front of you is enough.
How you can live it
Let tomorrow wait. Do what is today — the task, the conversation, the rest.
A Psalm by David. the LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
What it means
God is like a shepherd. You do not lack what you truly need. Even when everything feels dark (‘the valley of the shadow of death’) you need not be afraid — he walks with you, not behind. Rod and staff protect and guide. They do not strike you — but they may steer when you go wrong, and that can sting.
How you can live it
When you are afraid: say to the Lord ‘you are with me’. You do not have to get out of it yourself. He walks there with you.
A prayer
Father, you see the numbers. Give me wisdom for what I can do, and peace for what I cannot. Amen.