We stay in a high-risk area for bush fires and with the extremely hot and dry weather lately, it has become a very real threat. A fire destroyed 56 houses higher up in the hills two weeks ago and two days ago water bombers and fire fighters contained a small fire less than a kilometer away, leaving me feeling very anxious.
The night after the fire threat, I read my four year old one of his favourite bedtime stories, Bob the Bird, by Andrew Mcdonough. In this simple little story, Bob and his fellow feathery friends can’t believe how much people worry about “just about everything” and to what lengths they’ll go to “fix” things themselves.
It was a bit of a wake up call. I was ashamed as to how quickly the anxiety took hold of my heart yet again, blurring out all truth within me, forgetting that I am his precious daughter, in a loving, honouring relationship with Abba Father and therefor I can trust Him fully, even in the midst of a fire.
I read through the specific scripture again this morning, and wow, what amazing comfort lies within the words:
“If you decide for God, living a life of God–worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion––do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best–dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers––most of which are never even seen––don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God–reality, God–initiative, God–provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Mat 6:25-34 (The Message)
If I stop worrying, I can focus on being a warrior within the challenges and hardships every day holds, fighting not by might, nor by power, but by the Breath of God.
Being Intertwined 