I sat down this morning and cracked open my Bible. Lately, I’ve been reading in Luke. I’ve been jumping from parable to parable just to read the words of Jesus. Today though, I’m struggling with anxiety. It is something I’ve always had some issues with, but when things get stressful, it builds up even more. Maybe you can relate. Right now, work for me is so stressful. Add to that the state of our nation and world, and well… you get the picture. Because of the anxiety, I decided to jump in my reading over to Matthew 6 to find comfort. I knew the verse before I even got to it, and maybe you’ve heard it too. I was longing to read verse 25:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6: 25-27)

Funny enough, I didn’t even get that far before God stopped me. My eyes were drawn to verse 19 instead.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6: 19-21)

This verse has convicted me over the years many times. One of my root struggles / sins is materialism, and this verse hits right at the heart of materialism. But today was different. I read it in a new light. A light shining on my anxiety. I have been building my treasure up in my work. Maybe not monetary treasure, but the treasure of my time and my thoughts. If consultants, researchers, and countless other professionals are paid for their opinions and thoughts, that that can certainly be considered treasure. How much have I “spent” on the things that make me anxious? I thought about this for awhile and found the thought not at all condemning, but very freeing.

I don’t need to spend all that treasure on the things that make me anxious. I can’t make those things perfect even though that’s what I am trying to do. Jesus is the only one that can make things perfect. (And true perfection is likely very different than my interpretation of perfect) I need to let go a little bit.

Where is your treasure being stored up? If you have anxiety like me or even just some anxious thoughts, it may mean you are storing it up a little too much in the wrong places. All anxiety is sourced in unmet expectations. If we try shifting our expectations to expectancy in Jesus, we might just stop caring quite so much that our earthly, anxiety-riddled treasure chest doesn’t look exactly like we originally wanted it to. And that’s a very good thing.

Jesus – Thank you for showing me treasure isn’t always just money, but time and mental capacity too. Forgive me for spending so much treasure on earthly things. Please meet me in this. Guide my heart towards building treasure in Heaven. May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done in all I say and do. – In your name I pray, Amen.