Tossing and Turning: The Future

Matthew 6:25-34  /  Isaiah 41:10-13

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What keeps you awake at night? There are nights when I loose valuable sleep time, tossing and turning in bed, trying to work out a solution to an issue--worrying about all kinds of things. Any other worriers out there? I can’t be alone! Eventually, I begin worrying about not getting enough rest to handle the challenges of the next day! 

So, what is it that we worry about?  Any given day it could be something different: Fear, troubled relationships, finances, our kids, our health, our country, the environment, an uncertain future, whatever it is—we all give in to worry at one point or another. 

This week, we continue our “Tossing and Turning” series with a focus on The Future. Why do we worry about the future? Why do we lose sleep over it? Because you have pulse! Your human. We often like to control the future of our live. We stress out and worry about things that we can’t control.  Note: we can have dreams for the future (at lease things we might be working on in present to get us to a certain place). We go to school and to college to make a living at something. We date to find that special someone. We save money to do things in the future.  Those things are ok. We have to do those things. But when worrying about them keeps you up at night or thinking that you have all the answers or that you’re in control of your future, well that is not good. Anyone who is living knows you can’t control the future. 

What does the Bible say about all of this?

We have some excellent messages in scripture this morning from words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 and the promises of God from Isaiah 41:10-13. Together, these passages help us confront our worries about tomorrow and anchor us in God’s promises today. 

But first—something a little personal. Being a United Methodist pastor can give one lots of experience on this topic—what does the future hold. While each of us would like to control the future, sometimes God has greater plans. 

I graduated seminary in 2005 and was appointed to my first charge (2 churches-Oswego and Martville ¾ and ¼) It was a wonderful few years of growing and learning and seeing how joyful these two churches were to have a young pastor (with all kids of crazy ideas) and going through the ordination process. It didn’t take long for them to trust and love me and feeling was mutual. Everything was honky dory until one March (right before Easter) I was sitting at my desk and received a call from my DS. I was still too new to know what a call from the DS in march meant. Then I heard the news that I would end my appointment in Oswego/Martville and start at Auburn that July. A larger congregation made up of 2 churches that just voted to merge and become 1 new one. Sure, appoint someone who is not even ordained quite yet---with 3 years of pastoral ministry experience. Let’s just say I felt pretty good that they trusted me to have the gifts and graces to walk with this new church but I would be lying if I thought maybe the bishop/cabinet/God may have gotten this a little wrong! If I were in control I would have stayed in Oswego and continued the work God was calling us to. 

I very much thought my plans to control the future were the way to go. I had no idea what God had in store for me in Auburn! Opportunities for incredible leadership growth, living in a parsonage for the first time, selling a few church properties, merging 2 churches and meeting Mike, and bringing 2 children into the world. Who knew??? God. 

Each of us has this sense that we are born with, this sense that if we knew exactly what would happen every step of the way that things would be so much better. We feel that if we knew the future, there would be safety, security, or that we could change something if we don’t like what the outcome will be. The question is, do we really know what is best? 

Let’s turn to scripture to see what God has to say about wrestling with the future.  Right away in our text from Isaiah we hear a profound promise from God: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” 

We aren’t alone in facing down the future, whatever it might hold. God is not only with us, but God will provide for us with strength, presence and help. This text powerfully assures us of God’s strength and care. Set during Israel’s exile in Babylon—a time of deep despair—God speaks through Isaiah to comfort the Hebrew people, reminding them of the protection they have through their God.  

When the future is unclear or in times of transition, we may feel anxious and worried about what lies ahead. Yet, trusting in God and that God is at work on our behalf can provide a deep sense of security, even when the path is unclear. Instead of dwelling on the unknowns, we can rest in the truth that God is already working everything out for good, even if it unfolds differently than what we expected. 

As we turn to our text from Matthew, we see that God meets the needs of everything, including birds and flowers. Jesus reminds us that if God is willing to take care of birds and flowers, God will take care of us. We aren’t called to worry; we are called to follow the heart of Christ. 

 “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink... Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap… yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Jesus calls us to trust God’s provision rather than striving for control. Just as God provides for the birds and flowers, God will meet our needs, even in ways we might not expect. 

Let us remember that Jesus is telling us to live a life with our head in the sand and one that is detached from reality or all emotion because there's a difference between being concerned and being worried. In many ways, worry is our attempt to control an outcome that has yet to occur. We end up doing all of this worrying. We put all of this emotion into something that hasn't happened.  

As we consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, maybe the challenge for us today (and every day) is to leave our worries about the future in Jesus' hands today. Let’s focus on what God is calling us to do right now, trusting that God is already in the future, guiding, providing, and working for our good. There’s plenty that God is calling us to in this very moment (remember Esther’s story---perhaps you are born for just a time as this)? Let’s focus here. Right now. And continue to do the next right thing-trusting in God’s presence now and in the future—whatever it might be. Though we may toss and turn over the unknown, we can rest in God’s unchanging faithfulness. Thanks be to God. Amen.