O You of Little Faith

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 important than food, and the body more important 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grasses of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6: 25 – 30

This is one of the most well-known passages in Scripture, and it presents one of the most vivid images of God’s love and provisional care for us.

Haven’t we found it to be so true that when we have needed Him most, He has always come through for us? And if you haven’t experienced it for yourself, I am sure you have heard many stories of individuals who have felt desperate, hopeless, and so alone, and then when they least expected it, help came with the assistance, encouragement, and hope they needed. Our God provides. He understands that there will be times when we will need to depend on His love and grace, and He wants us to trust that He will always carry us through.

These words were spoken by Jesus Himself in His Sermon on the Mount to His disciples, as He taught them about the life He desired for them to have as His faithful followers and about the message He wanted them to share with the world. And it is a message for us, as well. It is a loving reminder that we have no need to worry. If God takes care of the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, and the grasses of the field, He will surely take care of us. His grace and His love will always be sufficient.

What comfort, strength and peace it brings to know that no one understands our concerns more than God, but He doesn’t want them to consume our lives and take away our time and energy. When we do so, it shows our lack of faith in His love, wisdom, and power to give us what we need. He wants us to look to Him, to trust Him, and to believe that He will provide in whatever way is needed.

God wants us to find joy in today and not worry about tomorrow – to live one day at a time. He will always give us what we need for today, and then He will give us the grace for what we need tomorrow. “O ye of little faith”, says it all. We speak of faith. We must trust Him – and live as if we do.

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for the confidence and assurance that we can have in you for today, for tomorrow, and for our future. May we trust in you and help each other grow in the knowledge of your presence and love. Amen