Each year God has provided just what our family has needed. During our time in seminary this was very evident. In our third year Rhonda got pregnant with our first child, my internship was reaching its expiration date, and I was faced with graduation. Everything was up in the air in terms of our future. For the most part, those potential changes didn’t worry me. God had provided so far after all. But when I sat down to read in my barcalounger and drifted off, I noticed that my “naps” were less filled with rest and more filled with anxiety. In that state between waking and sleeping I felt enormous anxiety over the future. Where would we be in a few months? Our jobs are ending, my graduation is coming and I have a child on the way. I would wake up sweating and fearful. On the surface it was a fear of basic necessities. Would we have money to pay rent? Buy food? Would I be able to provide for my family? But it also revealed a deeper fear: would I succeed in this new career? Am I really called to serve as a pastor?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US with over 13% of the adult population affected. That’s an astonishing number considering this number includes only those diagnosed with a “disorder.” Anxiety affects everyone to one degree or another.

To overcome my anxiety I worked hard at uncovering all the possibilities and jockeying for a good position. None of this really did much to reduce it. The only thing that really seemed to work was remembering a verse found in Matthew 6, a little bit later in the chapter we’re looking at this morning. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” It comes in the context of Jesus addressing anxiety.

do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The message to me was clear. God would provide. He always had. He always would. Because God provides, we must make seeking his kingdom our first priority.

Mt 6:11 The Provision of Prayer – Discussion Guide