By: Erin Davis
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” Matthew 6:33.
When our children are babies and they have one of those crying spells that nothing seems to fix, my husband always takes them for a stroll to “survey the kingdom.” For the first two our “kingdom” encompassed a three-bedroom ranch, big back yard, and occasional stray cat. Our new edition, Judah has been born into a slightly larger “kingdom” that includes a little farm, a Goldendoodle, three cows, and a goat named Oreo. No castle, but I’ve got enough laundry to make a moat and I do occasionally feel like a maiden locked in the tower.
Often, it’s the needs of our little “kingdoms” that cause us to wring our hands, lose sleep, or feel our blood pressure rise. When we look too closely at our own little world it’s easy to get worried
Worry is in fact, exactly what Jesus was talking about when He urged us to seek His kingdom first. Jump back just a few verses and we read this gem:
“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 the life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).
Those worries about whether or not your kids should eat Gluten or if they’re getting enough vitamin C? Ditch em. Concerned about whether or not you should allow soda or serve them almond milk instead of dairy? Drop it. Got kids who outgrow shoes monthly. Fogettaboutit.
I love that Jesus used very practical matters to teach us about worry. He knew that when He commanded us not to be anxious, we would come back at Him with all of the things that feel like pressing needs. When we let the little stuff (or the big stuff) work us up, we’re really focusing too much on our kingdoms.
God urges us to zoom out and consider His kingdom. While our “kingdoms” may be a big deal to us (and to God!) they’re tiny in comparison to His. And yet, He promises that we will get to be a part of the bigger picture.
The antidote to worry isn’t to manage every potential crisis, to avoid every landmine, and to keep all of our ducks in a neat little row. It is to zoom out and focus less on all that’s happening in our world and more on the big picture of what God is doing in His kingdom.
God knows about our needs and the needs of our kids. He promises to meet them. And He reminds us that it all pales in comparison with the kingdom He wants to build through us.
What’s worrying you today? What can you do to fix your eyes on God’s kingdom instead of surveying your own too closely?
ERIN DAVIS is the founder of Graffiti Ministries, an organization dedicated to addressing the issues of identity, worth, and true beauty in the lives of young women. She is the author of Beyond Bath Time, which addresses the importance of motherhood as a sacred role. A popular speaker, author and blogger, Erin has addressed women of all ages nationwide and written several books including Beyond Bath Time, Graffiti: Learning to See the Art in Ourselves, True Princess, and The Bare Facts, co-written with Josh McDowell. Her quest for the perfect scoop of ice cream is never ending and her children Eli, Noble, and Judah are her constant source of entertainment.