"Tomorrow will worry about itself."

I have always been the type of person who thinks a lot about the future, anticipates it, often worries about it. I don't think there's anything wrong with being someone who looks forward; in fact, the Bible says to "keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." If you happen to be one of those people in this world who calls yourself a Christian, then it's obvious you're supposed to be ready for the imminent (any time) return of our Savior. Personally, I don't want to be cussing someone out on the basketball court right at the time Jesus comes back. Actually there's plenty of things I wouldn't want to be doing, so looking forward to that day (regardless of the date) not only gives me inspiration to do right, but incentive not to do wrong.

However, as important as that point is--and someday I'll come back to it--it's not the point that I want to make. I love to read, and since it's summer, I've picked up a few books, one of which is about the David of the Bible (you know, the guy who killed Goliath). Tonight as I was reading, I came across an interesting point that the author Chuck Swindoll made. It was simply this: ultimately, how awesome is it that we don't know what tomorrow or next week or next year has in store for us? In David's life, he had just killed Goliath, essentially saving the nation of Israel from captivity under the Philistines, and then Saul, the king, decides he wants to kill David. Not even a "hey Dave, thanks for saving my kingdom with one swing of your sling." But all kidding aside, he goes from a position of prominence and prosperity to fear and depression just like that. And he was in that valley of life for years. Something tells me that David was really glad that he didn't know about that future. If he had, he wouldn't have enjoyed each present day as it came along, and we probably wouldn't even know who he was. Another example that has hit home to me recently is that one of my own peers has cancer. I promise that she did not want to know about that ahead of time. Why would she? Instead, she must take it day by day, moment by moment, fighting with all her strength to beat it. Just like David. Saul eventually killed himself in battle, and after years of living one day to the next, he was king of Israel. I hope and pray that my friend will make the same recovery.

Where am I going with this? Basically, two things. First of all, I need to stop worrying so much about the future. Matthew said "Who of you by worrying has added a single cubit to his height?" (On a side note, maybe my worrying is what caused me to stop growing in between 8th and 9th grade?) Over and over in my life, I catch myself worrying about paying for this or feeling that way, or being perceived by so and so, etc. Even more disappointing is that the things I worry about are almost never things that matter in the long run anyways. Secondly, tomorrow can deal with itself. Sure I can prepare for what tomorrow may bring, but in the end that is all I can do. Live today fully. A great man named Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." In other words, wanting to know the future is fruitless when you come right down to it. Instead, concentrate on living the now so that you may be ready for that unknown day when it comes.

I have something that's heavy on my mind right now that concerns something down the road. It's very important to me, and I'm having a hard time not worrying about it and just preparing myself so that whatever the outcome may be, I can take it in stride. So, if you are the kind of person who prays, pray for me on that one. I need it. If you don't pray, then I don't hold it against you. Whether you pray or not, whether you have faith in the redemptive power of Jesus or not, please let's just live this day.