Seen, Known, and Provided For - by Lily Nippress

Lately, as I’ve been stepping into a new season of my life, I’ve been reminded how quickly worry can creep in. A few months ago, I honestly had no idea what God was doing with my life. Even when He started making the next step clear, I still found myself worrying. You’d think having answered prayers would settle my heart, but instead I started worrying about whether I was prepared enough, capable enough, or “ready” enough.

For those who don’t know me well, I am someone who strives to produce work that is to the utmost quality and aims to be prepared for anything thrown at me. These may sound like great qualities, however at times they have suffocated me.  I’ve had moments where I’d be in a paralysis because of thoughts like, “What if I didn’t do enough?” or “What if everything falls apart?”

One day I was meant to have a day off, but instead I found myself working through a bunch of tasks because I was concerned I wouldn’t be ready for the next day. I could feel myself getting overwhelmed. I realised I needed to stop. I paused, prayed, and felt this nudge to open my Bible. I didn’t have a plan, I just opened it. And right there was Matthew 6 with the heading Do Not Worry.

Then I read: “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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Matthew 6:26–27 (NIV)

I actually laughed a little. “Okay God… yes, I am more valuable than a bird.” And in that moment, I realised how much energy I had been wasting on worry. Energy God never asked me to spend.

We talk a lot about trusting God’s plan, but living that out day‑to‑day can be so much harder in practice that it is in theory. God knows that. He knows our human struggles. He understands our tendencies, our fears, our desire to control outcomes. He even sent a part of himself as Jesus to walk this earth, so we’d know He truly understands what it feels like to be human.

So when Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, He isn’t dismissing our feelings. He’s inviting us into freedom. He’s reminding us that our Father in heaven already knows our needs. He’s already gone ahead of us. He’s already prepared the way.

And that’s where this simple question comes in:

What is your responsibility?

The bible shares this answer: To live a life pleasing to God. Not to control every outcome. Not to predict every problem. Not to carry tomorrow on your shoulders. Your responsibility is obedience, faithfulness, and trust. Not worry. When we let go of the “what ifs,” we make room for His peace to fill the space where anxiety used to live.

So whatever season you’re in, I hope this encourages you. God sees you, he’s knows what you need and he’s already working on your behalf. You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You just have to walk with the One who does.