“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
‭‭Matthw‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus is peaking to his Disciples, but the message was not just for them. This beautiful message about God’s provision is meant for each and every one of us!

This passage of Scripture is not just in the Book of Matthew but in the Book of Luke as well. The message that began the Lent: The Life of Surrender series entitled, “Stay Calm” is on this passage in Luke 12:22-34

The first time this passage was brought to my attention was in 2019, when I was having severe anxiety about getting my driver’s license reinstated. I felt so helpless when it was suspended due to a car accident because of my low vision. When all the “what ifs?” were going through my head, one of my friends who does not believe in God told me that I was “borrowing trouble.” I didn’t know what that meant when she told me, so I brushed it off. Later that night, I went to a Bible study and had an anxiety attack. My pastor, at the time, said the same thing. I asked what it meant. She told me and then told me to look up the passage about the lilies. I read about God’s provision and care, but it did not sink in until recently. I feel like God has been speaking to me in so many ways this year. Now that I have tuned my ears and fixed my eyes on his Word and Truth, I am experiencing a peaace I truly cannot understand. Days are still difficult, but I am learning what it means to have Scripture stored up in your heart so that when trials come, I will not fall.

In February, this year, this passage popped up  throughout the month on 3 different days. 
On the 4th, it was in a devotional.
On the 15th, I was discussing God’s provision with my husband and then “Jireh” came on a shuffled playlist. That same day, I had another devotional mention it.
The third day, February 26th, it was mentioned in that first message during Lent, and it hit HARD!

The key points I soaked up from that message were:
-Worrying decreases your capacity to seek the Kingdom
-Worry robs your present in the name of your future
-Interrupt your worry thought patterns with reminders of God’s faithfulness

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder at 14 years old. My grandfather had passed away a year earlier, and I knew something was NOT okay. I sought help and at least had a diagnosis to work off of to heal and change my thoughts and behaviors. So, that being said, anxiety has been a part of my life, on paper, for 14 years. I am so grateful that I finally am coming to understand the faithfulness of God and that no matter what comes my way, I can TRUST him!

This lesson came at the PERFECT time because my husband was in the beginning stages of figuring out his purpose aside from the career he has known for over a decade. He felt called to leave his job and to trust God would make a way. At the time, I was working in a toxic work environment with not much pay. It was unsettling at first to take that step of faith with our finances but with our savings and prayers for discernment, everything worked out with my husband getting a new job so he can focus on what God is leading him to and my getting a new job that I was born to be in! At that time, when we didn’t know for sure that everything was going to work out, we kept our faith. I didn’t know it was possible to be as calm as I was about the situation but everything fell right into place!

Many times, this passage has been referred to as the “Sparrows and Lilies” passage. Interestingly enough, I did not find a translation that uses sparrows as the bird of choice. Mostly it simply says, “birds” or “fowl” and in Luke, it lists “ravens” as the birds. Because this passage has been repetitive for me this year, I have done some research and found some other Scripture mentioning sparrows. Specifically:
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
–Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God! What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.”
–Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT

I actually appreciate the placement of sparrows throughout Scripture because of how small and how many there are. YET God takes care of them all the same! We are valuable to God more than we can ever imagine!

I realized that this message comes up multiple times in music. The most popular songs I found are:

I have always loved when God speaks to me through worship music! It is such a blessing when I am having anxiety and I turn to worship music and God tells me exactly what I need to hear through the songs.

So from “borrowing trouble” and not taking things one day at a time starting in my 8th grade year to trusting God will provide and knowing his love is all I need anyway SO MUCH growth has occurred.

When you are desperate for peace 
Overcome with anxiety and not sure how you will make it 
Remember God’s love for you 
Remember how he cares for the sparrows and lilies
You are loved and God will meet your needs and more