Future worry is overwhelming. There’s a reason. We don’t have grace today for tomorrow. One of Satan’s simplest tricks and most effective devices is to draw our attention to things we can do nothing about. There’s nothing worse than a crisis that can’t be fixed. If our hours are spent with thoughts of tomorrow’s problems, which are not accessible today and which we know we cannot touch with today’s resources, we are doomed to worry. And worry wears us out… [Yet] our calling is today. It’s not that we don’t think of tomorrow, but it must consistently be filed under “future grace.” The tide of confidence in God’s sufficiency must wash out worry. In fact, it’s a command. “Do not be anxious for tomorrow.” To go there is to disobey a directive from the One who holds every moment in His hand.
— Jim Elliff (b. 1947), Pastor, Evangelist und christlicher Autor
Related Bible passage: MAT.6.34
Topics: Fear & Anxiety, Faith & Trust
Occasions: Encouragement
Jim Elliff
Jim Elliff (* 1947) ist ein US-amerikanischer Pastor, Evangelist und Autor aus dem reformatorisch-baptistischen Spektrum sowie Gründer des Dienstes Christian Communicators Worldwide. Er tritt mit Nachdruck für biblische Erweckung, verbindliche Gemeindezugehörigkeit und echte Bekehrung ein und wendet sich gegen einen oberflächlichen Entscheidungsglauben. Bibellesern begegnet er heute vor allem durch pointierte Impulse zu geistlicher Wachsamkeit, praktischer Nachfolge und reformatorischem Schriftverständnis.
Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Martin Luther
Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid.
Frederick Buechner
Corrie ten Boom
Worrying does not take away tomorrow's sorrow, it takes away today's strength.
Corrie ten Boom
Jochen Klepper
Helmut Thielicke
We must build dikes of courage against the flood of fear.
Martin Luther King Jr.