Anxiety Reading Plan – W1D2

Check out all the previous Anxiety readings here.

Anxiety Reading Plan | Day 2

Prayer

Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:28-34

Read these verses three times slowly.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Reflection & Questions

When it comes to managing anxiety, we saw yesterday that it begins with recognizing it. We also saw that Jesus didn’t offer a blueprint for what will happen, but offers something better (but perhaps harder), a relationship with the Architect, who loves us and is completely trustworthy. Jesus emphasizes these things again in today’s verses. He says, “Why do you worry? … Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

There are two more points to note on anxiety from these verses though. Firstly, the usefulness of nature when it comes to managing anxiety. Yesterday, Jesus told us to consider the birds. Today, he tells us to look at the flowers. The reality is that getting in nature helps our brain become more present and calm. We are a society that has replaced nature with concrete and being outside with television and social media. Is it any wonder that we struggle more with anxiety? Choosing to spend time in nature, feeling the wind, watching the birds, noticing the flower petals is an excellent practice for the anxious.

But what Jesus says at the end of these verses is perhaps most telling about what anxiety does to us. He says, “do not worry about tomorrow.” Anxiety is future-based. It takes us out of enjoying the here and now, and makes us worry about the future, the ‘not yet’. That future focus keeps us from being present with people and from connecting with God, because you can only build relationships if you’re present. Managing anxiety is important because if we let it, it will rob us from truly living life in the only moments we have, which are the moments we are in.

1. What word or phrase that Jesus uses sticks out to you today? Why?
2. Have you noticed that anxiety keeps you from connecting with God and others? How could you work on being more present this week?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

Recommended Summer Reading

If anxiety is something that you or a loved one wrestle with, “The Anxiety Opportunity” by Curtis Chang is a great read. Check it out on Amazon.

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Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.

Questions?