Do you ever find yourself facing a decision, an event, or an answer that you don’t want to come? You know things will change after it happens and you can’t decide which would be for the better. What if you make the wrong decision? What if that event doesn’t go the way you hope? What if the answer is “No” or even “Yes?” With all the variables involved, you can’t decide which is the best way or if this is even what you want. And when it comes down to it, you find yourself questioning: “How did I end up here?”
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, growing up, you’re led to believe that you’re going to be prosperous. You’re born in a higher class, you end up staying in that higher class, but if you aren’t…well, you struggle. So, when that decision, event, or answer you don’t want to face comes around, you start having that conversation with the one you swore you’d never talk to again: comparison.
Isn’t it funny how in the midst of your dilemma, everyone else’s victories just seem brighter? They got a new job with a NICE pay raise. That guy moved out. Those two got married. All these different couples are having babies. Life is moving on. On the up and up! And then, there’s you.
You’re stressing over something that, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t a big deal.
“Who of you, by worrying can add a single day to your life?” ~ Luke 12:25
Regardless if you’re religious, a Christian, an atheist or not, would you mind taking a look at the verse again? Worrying can’t add a day to life. In fact, there are studies out there that say worrying and stress can decrease it. You can’t control what happens tomorrow. In fact, all you have is today. You could go to bed at night and not wake up tomorrow (I don’t mean to scare anyone). So, when you find that decision, event, or answer looming over you, reminding you that week is going to be hard just because it’s a week of change. You don’t know how things will work out. I hope you’ll remember you’re in today. When life gets uncertain, all you can do is take it a day at a time.
Allow me to be honest. I’m not where I thought I would be. If you asked the me from ten years ago, they would tell you I’d be somewhere completely different. They’d probably be disappointed in me if you told them where I’m at now and that’s okay. Life doesn’t go the way you expect it. Sometimes expectations and dreams have to take the sideroads instead of the highway, but you still get there. I may not know where I’m going anymore, but there’s no use worrying about it. Sometimes, you just have to take things one day at a time. You wait and see what doors open and while you’re waiting, you do good work: help others, show kindness, and don’t let the bitterness or disappointment weigh you down. Have faith that things will work out in the end.
Whatever decision, event, or answer you face this week, I hope you don’t stress over it. Strive for it. Do your best to get the outcome you desire, but don’t obsess over it. All the thoughts toward it in the world aren’t going to add a day to your life, so if you’ve done all you can do toward it, focus your thoughts on what’s really important: family, friends, and life itself. If you take a step back and see your situation in the grand scheme of things, I think you’ll find its not as big a mountain as you’ve made it to be. No matter the outcome of your week, I know you’ll be okay. We both will.
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
~Matthew 6:25-34
nikki diekemper 