If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now at the thought of beginning a difficult journey, there’s a lot of freedom to be had when embracing the Matthew 6:34 scripture urging us to quite literally forget about tomorrow. May sound sociopathic to some, but Jesus knew the score.

I find the number one reason we give up, or really never even begin something God’s called us to, is because we’re thinking too far ahead when we’re only meant to handle today.

Sounds so simple, but sometimes the simplest of concepts are the most profound. God gives us the gift of time, but he breaks it into manageable daily units. So, every morning we get to make the renewed choice to surrender and follow and rely on Him for one day. That way we’re less overwhelmed and stressed when facing hard things.

It could be a struggle to still believe for a baby after you’ve had two miscarriages this year. Or giving up alcohol after struggling for years. Or fighting for your marriage when all you want to do is run.

The examples are endless, but the remedy is the same.: today thinking. God understands how overwhelming and difficult life can be, and Scripture is literally bursting with His promises to supply all our needs in daily measurements.

This is why Jesus says not to worry about tomorrow. This is why the Lord’s prayer says “give us this day, or daily bread.” This is why God sent only enough fresh manna to the Israelites to feed them for the day, and this is why David says, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” in Psalm 68.

The single best way to continue in God’s will, when it’s hard, is to follow him for the next waking 16ish hours. And then do it again tomorrow. Because more often than not, when we quit, or stumble or become paralyzed with fear, it’s because we’re letting the “what if’s” in.

So let’s say for example, you just committed to staying married after going through some divorce-level hard junk. It can be REALLY overwhelming when you think even one day past today. Because the tomorrow thinking is killer…What if things never change and it’s still the same in five, ten twenty years? What if I’m wasting the best years of my life? What if he ends up leaving me in the long run, and I’m doing all this work for nothing?

Or let’s say you just went through difficult break up, and trying to give yourself time to grieve instead of hopping right on to the dating apps. If you start thinking about how hard the holidays are going to be with no one to send kissy emojis to, or the thought of turning 40 next Spring with no man in sight, you’re setting yourself up failure. Your only job for today is to keep those anxious thumbs away from downloading Match…until tomorrow.

When fear, doubt and temptations start flooding our minds, we need to squelch them with today thinking. If God’s calling you to a higher level of purity in your life, then it’s your job to keep yourself pure…just for today. We simply need to pray and rely on Him ‘til our head hits the pillow…and then re-commit ourselves to Him in the morning.

One more note while on the topic of doing hard things. I believe those of us who know Jesus are so much stronger than we realize…if we’re surrendered. A half-hearted “yes” to God usually won’t get us over the finish line. Make sure you’re really committed to whatever hard thing you’ve said yes to, and then watch what God can do, when you continually trust and rely on Him, daily.

Whatever you’re struggling to surrender or begin…the burden become much lighter, and our confidence grows so much stronger when laser focusing on today. Here are some scriptures to meditate on and keep handy when you start getting pummeled by tomorrow thoughts. Cheers to the victory found in today, and every day after.  Xo

Psalm 68:19 says, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

Philippians 4:6: “Don’t worry about anything instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

Matthew 6:34: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.”

Lamentations 3:22: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness”

Have you signed up for my weekly blog yet? If not click here and you also get a free digital copy of my book, Hiding from the Kids in My Prayer Closet!