In this world of pressing needs and troubles, life can feel anything but a field of flowers. Whether crawling through a difficult season or just churning with the endless mundanity, we all face unwanted worries.
These thoughts can become so powerful if left on loop in our minds. At times it can feel like they’ll never stop.
It’s in those moments that all we really long for is someone to confirm that things will work out, that everything will be ok.
Anxiety is part of being human. It’s a natural response to any perceived threat, regardless of its existence. It can be overwhelming, changing the way we relate to everything around us.
In my lifelong experience with anxiety, I've tried many ways to cope. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to it. But there’s a story from my faith-tradition I want to share with you which has brought me lasting relief. I've found that Jesus gave us something simple yet marvelous to help us in our worries - flowers.
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Matt 6:28-30
In the middle of his most famous sermon, Jesus honors and acknowledges our tendency to worry about our basic, and possibly not so basic, needs. He uses the image of wildflowers to illustrate how the Kingdom of Heaven works in our lives.
When you look at flowers, what do you see?
I used to read these verses with a harsh tone, as if Jesus was criticizing the crowds for their concerns. As someone who struggles with worry, I felt like he was shaming me for having thoughts I sometimes couldn’t let go of. But the more I discovered his love for me, these words took on a different meaning.
At first glance, you’ll see their beauty, but look closer and they’ll reveal an even greater miracle. You see, flowers have little control of where their seeds land, when they bloom, and when they wither. And yet, Jesus points out that God cares for these small and humble plants.
Though at times we too may feel small and insignificant to God, it’s amazing that he longs to provide even more than he does for the temporal flowers.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed with my life, I can easily lose sight of the reality I live in. Instead of remembering that I have a Creator who wants to provide for me, I take things into my own hands. Far too often, I try to orchestrate my life in attempts to guarantee the best possible outcomes. I do this thinking that it will solve my anxiety, but it really only ever makes things worse.
But when I consider the flowers, the symbol of a God who gives abundantly to nature and to us, my perspective shifts and my mind starts to quiet down.
Though anxiety feels like second-nature, I don’t think it’s the default mode we were created to live in.
These days, my anxiety acts as a warning signal that my trust is somewhere it doesn’t belong. I know it’s a sign that I’m not near Jesus’s presence, because it never feels like his peace. So when I recognize the anxiety, it’s now an opportunity to come back to the One who knows me best so I can tell him how I’m feeling and experience his love.
We can find peace in the midst of anxiety by looking to the flowers. They are unassuming yet beautiful, reminding us that God cares for us and is in control. When we feel overwhelmed, we can take a moment to appreciate the flowers and trust that God is taking care of us.
If you're looking for a way to process your wilderness season experience, I created some free journal prompts to help you find clarity. Click here to download.
Photo by Christina Deravedisian.
1 comment
Do you ever paint pictures of flowers? I could definitely see a collection of just kind of closeups being a beautiful reminder set you could sell along w the dessert pictures. I would consider buying something like that ♥️