Trust

At the heart of this powerful teaching lies a profound question: who holds the pen in our life's story? Drawing from Matthew 6:25-34, we're confronted with Jesus' radical command to not be anxious about our lives—what we'll eat, drink, or wear. But this isn't just about managing worry; it's about wrestling with control. The sermon unpacks how anxiety reveals a divided heart, one that tries to serve both God and gain simultaneously. Through the vivid analogy of standing as an infant in a father's palm versus sitting strapped into a roller coaster, we discover that trust isn't about the absence of unknown circumstances—it's about knowing the source who holds us. The passage challenges our American Christian tendency to replace trust in God with confidence in our own hard work and ability to manipulate outcomes. When we grasp for control over the physical and material aspects of life, we miss the spiritual freedom that comes from open hands. The practical pathway forward? Seek first the kingdom. Replace anxious thoughts with whatever is true, honorable, just, and pure. Practice thanksgiving even in chaos. This isn't a message that denies anxiety will come; rather, it equips us with a battle plan rooted in Philippians 4—prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, and the intentional reshaping of our thought patterns. The invitation is clear: stop being the hero of your own story and become a participant in God's greater narrative.