How Much Does God Love You?

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ~ Matthew 6:25-26

This is part of today’s Gospel reading. It is one of my favourites. As a Catholic, I was baptized as an infant. My first memory of falling in love with God happened in Grade 1. Back then, Scripture reading was allowed in school. I sat mesmerized to the Hebrew Scripture readings of Genesis. Something deep inside me was moved as I watched characters like Adam and Eve and Noah and his family interact with a very personal God.

I read Scripture daily for strength, courage, and insight. I know that when I struggle or become fearful it is easy to worry. A prayer that is said in every mass is “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” A former pastor at my church always added a word: “protect us from all useless anxiety.” I loved that. Some anxiety is a good thing but useless anxiety grinds us down.

I believe in a loving God, a God who wishes the very best for us. This God knows our every need and our every desire. God who cares for the tiniest mustard seed cares also for us. God who provides for the sparrow and the elephant provides also for us.

We have choices in life. Instead of handing them over to God, we worry and try to fix the issues that suck the life out of us. I am not saying for a minute that being a Christian makes every journey smooth sailing. On the contrary, I think we have as many storms on the seas as anyone else in life. All I am suggesting is that when we hand over the worries to God that the burden is shared and somehow the anxiety is not so overwhelming. On occasion, we will experience a peace beyond our understanding. That is the gift of our faith. Grace and peace that battle the useless anxiety that threaten to devour us. Do not worry about your life. Hand the worrying over to the One who can get it under control. God loves you immensely and wants the very best for you.

Peace,

Suzanne