Spiritual Journey Thursday - Trusting God and Living in the Moment

Every Thursday, I explore different aspects of my spiritual journey, and I ask anyone else who would also like to write about their spiritual journeys to link up below.  I've learned so much from the posts of those who share their thoughts.

 

     Today, a student told me a story that made my heart go out to her.  Right before she left my class, she said that she cries a lot before going to sleep.  I was immediately concerned and asked why.  She got a sheepish look on her face and told me that sometimes she lays awake at night and thinks about how old her mother will be when she (the student) has her own children and that made her sad.  I immediately connected with her feelings and told her a story about my oldest daughter when she was about 4.  I can remember one night putting her to bed (it was a long and complicated daily routine, as I recall), and as I started to close her bedroom door before departing, whispering "Good night, I love you," she started to panic.  "Wait!" she called.  "I don't want you to go!  If you go, it will almost be tomorrow, and then it will be time for kindergarten, and then I will be in middle school, and then I will be going to high school, and then I'll graduate, and then I will have to move out and go to college and then I'll get married and you'll be old and then..."  Her life was flashing before her very young eyes, and she was so frightened!  I felt so bad, and I tried to console both my student and my daughter by telling them to stay in today.  To enjoy THIS day. 

 

    Do you have children or students like this?  We can furrow our brows, wonder where they get these notions, maybe even be amused, and try to comfort them. They have many wonderful years ahead of them, and it will be okay.  But don't we do the same sometimes?  We lie awake at night, pondering to-do lists, worrying about school, work, kids, parents, friends.  We get anxious over every day decisions, big and small.  We make plans, thinking about every detail.  We project. Weeks come and go, and we realize time is flying.  We may panic a bit over the passage of time. 

 

     Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  God wants us to have an abundant life, trust Him, and leave tomorrow to Him.  I know this is easier said than done, but it is important to live in His presence, in the here and now.  In abundance.

 

 

My favorite line in this Needtobreathe song is: "I have surrendered to Your design." It is already designed.  There is no need to worry about tomorrow.