Today's Overload: Tommorrow
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not meant for us until tomorrow. It is foolish to burden ourselves today with cares and concerns that belong to another day. Today’s challenges are sufficient for today and it behooves us to refrain from creating problems for tomorrow and then adding our creations to those of today.
Understand, I am not recommending that we should not use practical foresight or thoughtful future planning. Reckless prescience has its own inherent difficulties. But what I am suggesting is that we could alleviate much of the stress and strain and illness we bring upon ourselves by not worrying or fretting about tomorrow. Doing so, not only debilitates, but it steals the wealth of delight reserved for you in your today. You overload your today with anticipatory thoughts of things to happen tomorrow that is not intended for your attention today.
We do not know what tomorrow’s issues will be, but whatever they are, tomorrow is the time to deal with them. Today has its own built-in support. God promises us daily strength for daily responsibilities. He provides daily grace for daily needs. Do not cross the street before you get to the curb. God knew what He was doing when He created the day and night division for our lives. Our responsibility is only for today.
You did not wake up this morning in your tomorrow; you woke up in the actuality of your today. We cannot live tomorrow today because tomorrow does not yet exist unless we create it in our minds. And, if we choose to create troubles we expect tomorrow in our minds, we threaten our well-being and virtually assassinate today's blessings. Why pay on tomorrow's account before it's due? When tomorrow comes, we may discover that whatever was owed has already been paid.
Would it not be prudent to just put your trust in the One who holds tomorrow?
I need not trouble for the morrow,
For I am in my Father’s care;
He will go with me as I journey,
For all my need He will prepare.
I need not either thirst or hunger;
His grace will never be denied;
He leads me to the living waters;
His daily manna is supplied.
I need not an abiding city,
For “I can tarry but a night”;
My heart, my treasure, are in Heaven,
My raiment is a robe of white.
O may my faith increase before Him,
My service here His blessing gain;
Let me seek first my Father’s kingdom,
For all beside must be in vain!
I know that He provides the lilies,
His eye each falling sparrow sees;
And so my soul will fear no evil,
For I am more to Him than these.
- Ina Mae Duley Ogdon
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: A Grief Healing Workbook, will be available soon.