Trusting God: Finding Peace in Daily Provision
Summary
In today's reflection, we are reminded of the profound truth that today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. We often find ourselves caught between the regrets of the past and the uncertainties of the future, all while dealing with the challenges of the present. The scripture encourages us not to borrow trouble from tomorrow, as doing so only adds unnecessary burdens to today. Planning for the future is wise, but worrying about it is not. God promises us enough for today, as His mercies are new every morning. When we worry about tomorrow, we step beyond what God has promised, and we risk insulting His provision and care.
The Bible is filled with testimonies of God's faithfulness. The Israelites in the wilderness, the widow of Zarephath, and the disciples with the five thousand all experienced God's miraculous provision when they trusted Him. These stories remind us that God can be trusted to meet our needs, even when we cannot see how. Jesus Himself declared, "I am the bread of life," promising to satisfy our deepest needs when we come to Him. Therefore, we are called to trust God with our tomorrows and focus on the grace He provides for today. By doing so, we honor Him and live in the peace that surpasses understanding.
Key Takeaways:
- Worrying about tomorrow adds unnecessary burdens to today. God provides enough grace for each day, and when we worry about the future, we step beyond His promises. Trusting God with our tomorrows allows us to live in the peace He offers for today. [00:52]
- Planning is wise, but unraveling over the future is not. The Bible encourages us to plan, but it also reminds us that God's mercies are new every morning. We are called to trust in His daily provision rather than be consumed by future uncertainties. [01:12]
- Worrying is a form of distrust in God's provision. When we worry, we imply that God cannot be trusted to care for us as He does for the birds and flowers. Trusting God honors Him and acknowledges His faithfulness. [02:19]
- Biblical testimonies of God's provision remind us of His faithfulness. The stories of the Israelites, the widow of Zarephath, and the feeding of the five thousand illustrate that God can be trusted to meet our needs when we put Him first. [02:33]
- Jesus, the bread of life, promises to satisfy our deepest needs. By coming to Him, we find living water and the bread of life, ensuring that our spiritual and physical needs are met. Trusting in Jesus brings peace and fulfillment. [03:39]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - The Burden of Tomorrow
[00:36] - Living Between Yesterday and Tomorrow
[00:52] - The Cost of Borrowing Trouble
[01:12] - Planning vs. Worrying
[01:28] - God's Daily Provision
[01:48] - Facing Today's Challenges
[02:05] - The Sin of Worry
[02:19] - Trusting God's Care
[02:33] - Testimonies of Faithfulness
[02:50] - The Widow of Zarephath
[03:07] - Feeding the Five Thousand
[03:23] - Jesus, the Bread of Life
[03:39] - Trusting in Jesus
[03:51] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
3. John 6:35 - "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 6:34 suggest about the nature of worry and how we should approach each day? [00:21]
2. How does the sermon describe the impact of "borrowing trouble" from tomorrow on our present day? [00:52]
3. What examples from the Bible were given in the sermon to illustrate God's provision and faithfulness? [02:33]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus being referred to as the "bread of life"? [03:39]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of God's mercies being "new every morning" influence a person's perspective on daily challenges? [01:28]
2. In what ways does worrying about tomorrow demonstrate a lack of trust in God's provision, according to the sermon? [02:19]
3. How do the biblical stories of the Israelites, the widow of Zarephath, and the feeding of the five thousand serve as testimonies of God's faithfulness? [02:33]
4. What does it mean for Jesus to satisfy our deepest needs, and how does this relate to the peace that surpasses understanding? [03:39]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent time when you found yourself worrying about the future. How did it affect your ability to focus on the present? What steps can you take to trust God more with your tomorrows? [00:52]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you tend to plan excessively. How can you balance wise planning with trusting in God's daily provision? [01:12]
3. Identify a specific worry you have about the future. How can you apply the principle of not borrowing trouble from tomorrow to this situation? [00:52]
4. Think about a time when you experienced God's provision in a surprising way. How can recalling this experience strengthen your trust in Him for future needs? [02:33]
5. Jesus promises to be the "bread of life." In what ways can you seek to deepen your relationship with Him to ensure your spiritual and physical needs are met? [03:39]
6. How can you remind yourself daily of God's new mercies and faithfulness, especially during challenging times? [01:28]
7. What practical steps can you take to live in the peace that surpasses understanding, as mentioned in the sermon? [03:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God with Today’s Burdens
Worrying about tomorrow adds unnecessary burdens to today. God provides enough grace for each day, and when we worry about the future, we step beyond His promises. Trusting God with our tomorrows allows us to live in the peace He offers for today. [00:52]
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific worry about tomorrow that you can release to God today, trusting Him to provide for your needs?
Day 2: The Balance of Planning and Trust
Planning is wise, but unraveling over the future is not. The Bible encourages us to plan, but it also reminds us that God's mercies are new every morning. We are called to trust in His daily provision rather than be consumed by future uncertainties. [01:12]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate trust in God’s provision into your planning process this week?
Day 3: Recognizing Worry as Distrust
Worrying is a form of distrust in God's provision. When we worry, we imply that God cannot be trusted to care for us as He does for the birds and flowers. Trusting God honors Him and acknowledges His faithfulness. [02:19]
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God." (Luke 12:6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a recent situation where worry overshadowed your trust in God. How can you choose trust over worry in similar situations in the future?
Day 4: Learning from Biblical Testimonies
Biblical testimonies of God's provision remind us of His faithfulness. The stories of the Israelites, the widow of Zarephath, and the feeding of the five thousand illustrate that God can be trusted to meet our needs when we put Him first. [02:33]
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way. How can this memory strengthen your faith today?
Day 5: Jesus, the Bread of Life
Jesus, the bread of life, promises to satisfy our deepest needs. By coming to Him, we find living water and the bread of life, ensuring that our spiritual and physical needs are met. Trusting in Jesus brings peace and fulfillment. [03:39]
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'" (John 6:35, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus as the bread of life? How can you seek His fulfillment today?
Quotes
"Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. He says, 'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.' Each day has enough trouble of its own. Ain't that the truth? Come on, tell the truth and shame the devil. Most of us are being crucified between two thieves: yesterday and tomorrow. The regrets of yesterday, the uncertainty of tomorrow and we still got to deal with the trouble of today." [00:04:52]
"When you withdraw from the bank of tomorrow, you've increased the burden of today. And you gotta pay interest on both. So, you've added to yourself a burden you were never meant to have. Listen to me, it's okay to plan for tomorrow. The Bible talks about planning. You can plan for tomorrow. What you can't do is get unraveled about tomorrow. You can't worry about tomorrow." [00:52:42]
"Because the only thing God is promising you is enough for today. Lamentations 3:23, 'His mercies are new every day.' 'Give us this day our daily bread.' God is only guaranteeing you today. So, when you start thinking about tomorrow you've gone farther than God has promised. Well what about tomorrow? He'll meet you there. Today has enough trouble of its own." [01:22:05]
"And you know if you can't even deal with the stuff in your face today, you're not gonna be able to handle that plus tomorrow's stuff today. He says, 'Do not worry about tomorrow.' All I'm trying to tell you—look at your neighbor and say, 'Stop it! You can't worry no more. You don't have a right to it.' It's a sin to worry. You've insulted your father when you worry." [01:49:10]
"Because you've said to your father: the birds can trust you, the flowers can trust you, but I can't trust you. You've insulted God. But if we had a testimony service here today and if we could invite the children of Israel, the children of Israel would testify: 'We were in a wilderness and we didn't know where we were going to get water and where we were gonna get food, but God had food in a rock and rain down cornflakes from above.'" [02:19:59]
"If the widow of Zarephath was here this morning, she would testify, 'I was down to my last meal and me and my son had only one meal left. But when I put God first with Elijah, God took that bread, He took that oil, He multiplied it and gave us enough to retire.' If the disciples were here to testify this morning, they could tell you they were with 5,000 men, not counting women and children, and they didn't know how they were gonna feed them." [02:36:37]
"But a little boy with some sardines and crackers gave it to Jesus first and Jesus multiplied it, fed 5,000 women and children, and had twelve baskets full left over. If Jesus were here, He could testify from John 6, 'I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me,' He said, 'will not thirst. And I will give him living water and I will feed him the bread of life.' Somebody oughta bless His name up in here, that God can be trusted even when you don't know how He's gonna do it, when you put him first." [03:20:47]
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