The holidays brings with it a spirit of giving and family get-togethers. But it’s also one of the most sobering times of the year for those who are down on their luck, or have lost a loved one, or facing a life-threatening situation. It’s been a little of both happy and sad for me. It’s great to be with my family once again being away for most of the year. But the prospect of retiring from the military brings about fears with the current job market, which happens to be very unpromising and unforgiving. For those of you about to look for a job or a second job to make ends meet, you know what i mean. But after struggling with worry and fear for a few days now, i’ve found true comfort in nothing else but the Word of God, specifically Matthew 6:24-34. With the economy lingering in the doldrums, and unemployment rates rising to an all-time high in 26 years, most of the country probably shares my own personal fears and predicament. Interestingly enough, divorce rates are at an all-time low and families are pulling together to make the best of times. In the midst of all the gloom, there is still hope and faith in God and family. Makes you wonder if God is just trying to get our attention after all…
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34
