"Surgery Day"

Jesus said, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB).

Today is surgery day. You may be receiving this devotional with some others for the coming days as I prepare to be out for a few days, but if you read this devotional on Thursday, November 4th, I will be in surgery by late afternoon. I have been told by the doctor that it is a relatively minor procedure to repair and correct a lateral herniated disk in my lower back. That was reassuring. I had read as much information about the procedure as I could find. That was reassuring. I have seen a video of the procedure. That was reassuring (well, sort of). I know the reputation of the hospital. That is reassuring. I have heard from many people who have had this procedure and herald the results as wonderful. That is reassuring. However, after all of that it really comes down to whether I trust my heavenly Father to do best by me and for His glory. And I do… THAT is what reassures me most!

In today’s reading Jesus makes two observations about the troubles we anticipate: First, tomorrow will care of itself. We can’t know how things will work out for us tomorrow. We can certainly envision our future, both good and bad. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Our imagination works extremely well, giving us plenty to worry about, but we just can’t know what resources, what help, what deliverance will come our way at the moment those things are needed, which isn’t now. Second, each day has its full quota of trouble. Jeremiah wrote, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans may include a fair amount of pain and suffering, but God has His reasons, and for those who are His, it will always turn out for their good, and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). In the meantime, God promises to give us, for the particular moment, and for the particular trial, whatever resources we will need to deal with it. What He does NOT promise is the power to face now what doesn’t even yet exist (and may never materialize).

Remember this: Worry is not a weapon against the enemy; worry is a weapon of the enemy! Mark Twain, in his folksy way, hit the nail on the head when he quipped, “In my life I have known many troubles – most of them never happened!” Be like the infant taken to the doctor for his vaccinations: he coos and giggles all the way there. Not knowing what’s in store, he can enjoy the moment and not fret the future. Oh when the needle pricks, he’ll cry hard enough – it’s okay to cry when it hurts. But it’s not okay, and highly unnecessary, to cry ahead of time. I am looking forward to being back, “live” so-to-speak, soon. I ask for your prayers. And, I trust in my Father in heaven! I encourage you to do the same as you face your days.