Tomorrow Is His, Not Ours
“Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” — Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart
There is a better way. His way.
Whether we are single, married, divorced, or widowed, we all make daily shifts and changes to meet the needs of the relationships and seasons we’re in. If I asked you what’s keeping you up at night or what’s consuming your thoughts during the day, I’m sure most of us could name at least one relationship that needs attention, time, or healing: your marriage, a family member, a co-worker, or a friend. We’ve all felt discontent in relationships.
Instead of surrendering that relationship or circumstance to Jesus, we can find ourselves stuck in the same old pattern of thinking and responding. My default is often: “How can I do better or be better so things will get better?” In other words, how can I control this situation and prevent more struggle, loss, or pain?
That type of thinking doesn’t lead to contentment. It leads to striving and controlling, which only produces strife in our relationships. How we choose to love one another, especially in marriage, says a lot about our commitment to the promises we made. How we respond to pain and conflict reveals how valued, safe, and secure we feel in those relationships. When our hearts are content, we operate from a place of peace regardless of our circumstances.
I am a more loving wife, parent, daughter, friend, and teammate when I interact from a place of overflow instead of lack. My heart is most content and at peace when I spend intentional time in Jesus’ presence. Jesus can handle our highs, lows, disappointments, and broken relationships, but our personal relationship with Him and how connected we are to Him will determine our influence inside and outside our homes.
Early in ministry, our founding pastor, Greg Kennedy, gave me a magnet that I kept on my desk. It read, “Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Pastor Greg knew I worried about things I couldn’t control. On many days that magnet kept me in check.
Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 4:6-13: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
When we stop leaning on our own strength and stop trying to control everything, God’s peace begins to guard our hearts and minds. We learn contentment, not from our circumstances, but from Christ.
He meets us even when we feel crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure. Paul writes:
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” — 2 Corinthians 1:8–9
There is a tomorrow, but tomorrow belongs to Him, not to our worry, not to our attempts to control, and not to our frantic striving. We are invited to bring our needs to Him, thank Him for what He has already done, and rest in the strength He provides today.
Worry robs today of strength. Bring your concerns to Jesus in prayer, rest in His peace, and live from the overflow of His presence—not the scarcity of your striving.
Prayer | Lord, we confess how easily we try to control what only You can hold. Help us release our worries to You today. Give us the peace that guards our hearts and minds, and teach us contentment that flows from being with You. Strengthen us not by our striving but by Your presence, so we can love others from overflow, not lack. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
There is a better way. His way.
Whether we are single, married, divorced, or widowed, we all make daily shifts and changes to meet the needs of the relationships and seasons we’re in. If I asked you what’s keeping you up at night or what’s consuming your thoughts during the day, I’m sure most of us could name at least one relationship that needs attention, time, or healing: your marriage, a family member, a co-worker, or a friend. We’ve all felt discontent in relationships.
Instead of surrendering that relationship or circumstance to Jesus, we can find ourselves stuck in the same old pattern of thinking and responding. My default is often: “How can I do better or be better so things will get better?” In other words, how can I control this situation and prevent more struggle, loss, or pain?
That type of thinking doesn’t lead to contentment. It leads to striving and controlling, which only produces strife in our relationships. How we choose to love one another, especially in marriage, says a lot about our commitment to the promises we made. How we respond to pain and conflict reveals how valued, safe, and secure we feel in those relationships. When our hearts are content, we operate from a place of peace regardless of our circumstances.
I am a more loving wife, parent, daughter, friend, and teammate when I interact from a place of overflow instead of lack. My heart is most content and at peace when I spend intentional time in Jesus’ presence. Jesus can handle our highs, lows, disappointments, and broken relationships, but our personal relationship with Him and how connected we are to Him will determine our influence inside and outside our homes.
Early in ministry, our founding pastor, Greg Kennedy, gave me a magnet that I kept on my desk. It read, “Worry is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Pastor Greg knew I worried about things I couldn’t control. On many days that magnet kept me in check.
Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 4:6-13: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
When we stop leaning on our own strength and stop trying to control everything, God’s peace begins to guard our hearts and minds. We learn contentment, not from our circumstances, but from Christ.
He meets us even when we feel crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure. Paul writes:
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” — 2 Corinthians 1:8–9
There is a tomorrow, but tomorrow belongs to Him, not to our worry, not to our attempts to control, and not to our frantic striving. We are invited to bring our needs to Him, thank Him for what He has already done, and rest in the strength He provides today.
Worry robs today of strength. Bring your concerns to Jesus in prayer, rest in His peace, and live from the overflow of His presence—not the scarcity of your striving.
Prayer | Lord, we confess how easily we try to control what only You can hold. Help us release our worries to You today. Give us the peace that guards our hearts and minds, and teach us contentment that flows from being with You. Strengthen us not by our striving but by Your presence, so we can love others from overflow, not lack. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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