Mark Sorensen There’s a beautiful moment found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Jesus is speaking to a crowd that has gathered around Him and He senses the weight that people are carrying. He senses the load and burden that life can often bring, so Jesus speaks into the worry of their lives by making a simple observation in only five words:
“And why do you worry…?”
Jesus points to the birds of the air, and the lilies in the field, and reminds those gathered around Him that their heavenly Father takes care of their needs, and then makes the observation, “Are we not more” than birds and grass? Beautiful. But wait, there’s more. Jesus goes on by asking: How many of you by worrying can add a single day to his or her life? Brilliant. The truth? Worry and unrest don’t add days to our lives; they subtract them.
Jesus knew that worry will weigh us down, it will stifle us, it will limit us. The beauty within Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6 reminds us that God is in control. He is in control of what we see, and He is even in control of what we can’t see.
And therein lies peace. What happened on the other side of the resurrection when the disciples were hiding behind walls, fearful of what was to happen to them? Jesus walked through the very walls they hid behind and responded, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
Where are you today? Are there walls of worry and unrest you are hiding behind? Look around you. Christ is right there breathing His peace on you.
That is good news, my friend.
