As a Christian, we can be thankful that when faced with all sorts of life’s burdens and challenges, the Almighty Father will take care of us. Hence, there is no need to worry. Our Heavenly Father cares with extraordinary thoroughness. He will not have any negligence. Every detail is within His control. Christ Jesus once taught His disciples, “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? . . . 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). The Bible teaches us that our Heavenly Father knows what we require to survive. He will provide them in time. Hence, our survival is not at stake. On the other hand, Christ Jesus did not promise a smooth sailing life with no difficulties or challenges. Instead, He promises that we are able to bear every difficulty we face. We are very easily worried by present or future (and tentative) difficulties. How we wished that life could be smooth sailing. Why does God not promise a life with no difficulties for Christians? Because there is a reason for such difficulties. What we know for sure is that God will not let us go through trials in vain. Instead, it is to bear fruit, allow our lives to be more holy, fulfilling, and from these events to experience God’s presence and God Himself even more. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Henceforth, Christians must learn to lean on God more in every aspect of life. This is our first challenge this new year. Christ Jesus has instructed the disciples in the previous verses in Matthew to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. God will definitely provide us with the things we need most at the most appropriate time. I hope that we would succeed in this challenge. God will help us! “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Translated by Davina Seet