One Page at a Time

 

[Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:25-27 ESV).

 

Sometimes I find myself wanting to peek ahead to find out how a book or movie is going to turn out. I may look again at the back cover of a book or check out a movie on the Internet to find out more. Sometimes it feels better if I know what’s coming next. Some of the time I want that in my own life story as well. When I face uncertainty or risk in my life, I want to look ahead to see what kinds of problems will develop. I figure I’ll enjoy today more if I know that tomorrow won’t be marred by a fresh wave of problems.

But God doesn’t usually offer sneak peeks into the future. Instead he urges us to simply trust him. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly encourages us to trust God for each day at a time. “Give us today our daily bread,” he taught us to pray (cf. Matthew 6:11). In our reading for today he urges, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” And he assures us that “each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 

I’ve enjoyed watching the Olympic Trials recently. I’ve seen some of the swimming events as well as track and field. I was reminded of how important it is the concentrate on where you are in the event. This is especially true in some of the longer distance races. Of course the athletes have their eyes focused on the finish line, but their real concentration is the “next” movement, not the final movement. I have found that to be true in so much of life.

 

My experience in life has convinced me that this journey I call life must be lived one “page” at a time. The truth is that today I will simply turn one more page in God’s story for my life. That page will provide opportunities for me to develop the gifts God has given me. That page will likely contain difficulties that will prompt me to cling to God more closely than before. And through the day’s experiences I’ll have the chance to notice the presence of Christ, if I look. I may even “wake” to the end of my journey tomorrow. Regardless I know I will win the prize. That is guaranteed by God. It will end “good”!