Tomorrow is one of my ‘go to’ excuses; it has been for years. When will I do it? Tomorrow. Maybe you’re the same.

The Bible talks about tomorrows (for an amusing ‘tomorrow’, check out Exodus 8 v 1 – 10). Proverbs 27 v 1 tells us ‘do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.’ and Jesus tells us ‘therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.’

Both of these verses are about ‘tomorrows’. Proverbs reminds us not to boast about tomorrow, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow.

Both of these verses are incredibly poignant for us in this season; many of our boasts about tomorrow have been put on hold; this week, I was due to be away on retreat, and ordained this Saturday – but as with many things right now, our ‘tomorrow’ plans have changed.  The writer of Proverbs reminds us that we simply do not know what tomorrow may bring; even when we have a fairly good idea, we’re reminded that God is the only One who really knows what tomorrow will bring.

For the same reason, we don’t need to worry about tomorrow, for only God truly knows what will happen. I can think of many times I’ve been worried about a ‘tomorrow’ – maybe you can too – a sleepless night, playing out situations or conversations in your mind, praying fervently, only to get to ‘tomorrow’ and find it was nothing to worry about!  God was already there and had it in His safe Hands!

Maybe instead or boasting or worrying about tomorrow, God simply calls us to be present in the present.  Not to dwell on the past (although it’s right to remember where we’ve come from and what God has done for us. The Psalms of Ascent are a good picture of Israel remembering what God had done on their journey and rejoicing and celebrating what He has done).  We’re also called not to boast nor worry about tomorrow.  We’re called to enjoy God now, in the present.

How often are we present in body, but not actually present? Our head is in our phone or our mind is elsewhere. Jesus calls us to be present in the present, so that we can trust Him entirely for tomorrow; as He teaches, He encourages the disciples not to pack an extra shirt for their journey; He tells a parable about not building a bigger barn for the stuff we accumulate; He tells us cannot serve both God and money. All of these point to the same thing – do we really trust God for tomorrow?

In the days we’re living in, let’s continue to ask God for strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow; let’s be attentive to His still, small voice in lockdown, and let’s pace ourselves wisely and not rush back to how things were a few months back. What is God saying to you in the present?

Do not boast about tomorrow, and do not worry about tomorrow – we don’t know what they will bring, but God does.

Pastor Lee.