Finding Faith ... in giving up tomorrow's worries to tomorrow

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2021 I began a new venture writing a newspaper column titled "Finding Faith" for the Forum Communications Co. network of newspapers and websites. I was asked to contribute to the company's ongoing conversation about faith, lending a Lutheran and fairly ecumenical approach to the discussion. The column was published in several of the company's papers and websites, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. This column originally appeared as a "Finding Faith" column on Feb. 11, 2022.

The Rev. Devlyn Brooks at his home church, Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn.

By The Rev. Devlyn Brooks

I recently was speaking with someone who is experiencing enough serious medical concerns between themselves and several close family members, that it is no wonder they feel anxious. It is an unfair amount of grief for one family, by any standard.

During the conversation I was reminded of Jesus’ advice given in Matthew 6:34: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” A text one of my mentors taught me, and one I often go to when I’m counseling those who are filled with anxiety.

But isn’t it the truth, though! All of us -- especially these past couple of years -- have enough worry on our plate that it’s sometimes hard to just get through a day, let alone add the concerns of tomorrow on top!

I suppose we humans are programmed for worry, probably an ancient survival mechanism. After all, during prehistoric times, when most of the wildlife, and many of the plants, wanted to kill you, worry probably was an asset. But thousands of years later, we seem unable to deprogram that particular function, despite the fact that we aren’t being chased by saber-toothed tigers anymore.

Here’s an admission: Pastors get anxious too. Sure, we’re trained to try to be a non-anxious presence, but it’s darn hard to forget about things that press in on our lives. Job stress; financial concerns; worry about our loved ones; our friends getting divorced; our cars breaking down; and our pets making messes on our living room carpets that have to be cleaned up on Sunday mornings before we can get to church! … We really do live real life!

Trust me, the past couple of years have worn me out too. I know that clergy are expected to exude optimism and confidence that God has a design for all this chaos in which we’re living. … Jesus, take the wheel, and all that. … But, honestly, we mostly have the same genetic material as you, and so we’re prone to worry too.

Here is some biblical truth: We’re not promised easy lives here on this beautiful rock. And Jesus, who knows firsthand a little about the human trials we endure, encourages us to put off tomorrow’s trouble as we have enough on our plates for today.

Foregoing worrying isn’t easy for anyone, but I do try to practice what I preach. Turn to prayer. Turn to quiet. Turn to a friend. Turn to scripture. Find a practice that helps you focus on the now. We are only given this present moment in which to live, and Jesus knows that is all we humans are capable of handling anyway.

So, let’s take up his advice and give up tomorrow’s worries. Isn't it difficult enough just to live in the moment in this great, big ol’ world?

Devlyn Brooks, who works for Modulist, a Forum Communications Co.-owned company, is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He serves as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He can be reached at devlyn.brooks@forumcomm.com for comments and story ideas.