by Warren Olson
A wealthy businessman was crossing the street one day when he saw a black cat coming toward him. Being the superstitious person he was, he stepped aside to let the cat pass. He spent the rest of the day at work worried about his encounter with the cat. Was he going to have bad luck in his next business deal? Would this ruin him financially?
So as his work day was coming to a close, he walked up to a coworker and confessed his fear. “I crossed paths with a black cat this morning,” he said. “Should I be worried?”
The coworker sat back confidently in her chair, smirked, and said, “Well, that depends on whether you’re a rat or not!”
The things that worry us, cause us to lose sleep, and make us anxious are most often directly tied to how we see ourselves. The “black cats” of life can make us nervous when we see ourselves as nothing more than rats. But if you truly understand your value as God’s child, you can have real victory over worry.
Take a look at what Jesus said in Luke 12:27-32:
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, you have a promise that you’re much more important than anything else in creation. And if God takes care of the flowers, the birds, and everything else, He’ll take care of you!
God delights in you because of your faith in Jesus Christ. He’s not sitting up in heaven shaking His head in disappointment. No, He loves you with a love that cleanses you from all sin and has raised you up with Him in the heavens (Ephesians 2:6).
So many believers in Christ are consumed by worry because they don’t understand how much God really does delight in them. But if you’ll rest in God’s incredible love for you, the worries and cares of the world will fade into the background as your see your true value to your heavenly Father.
Maybe your “black cat” today is your finances. Or perhaps it’s your health or family problems. Whatever it is, remember that through faith in Jesus Christ, God has already given you every victory you need and has promised to provide for you at every turn. He is pleased to give you the Kingdom, and because of that, you can live free from worry and stress!