“Build a little fence of trust around today;
Fill each space with loving work and therein stay;
Look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow,
God will help thee bear what comes, of joy or sorrow.”
– Mary Frances Butts (Leaves of Gold, pg. 69)
There’s an old song by Creedence Clearwater Revival called Lookin’ Out My Back Door. It’s in a category of what I call “happy songs,” songs that leave you smiling and a little more at ease after listening. While the overall meaning of the lyrics have been a matter of debate, the gist of the song is definitely about unwinding and releasing stress. The line that especially comes to mind says, “Bother me tomorrow, today I’ll buy no sorrow.” It’s a message that clearly resonates with the poetic words “build a little fence of trust around today, look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow.”
Christian faith is an interesting thing. It alerts us to consider the future and make decisions accordingly, not least in regard to the certainty of God’s judgment. At the same time, faith invites us to not become hand-wringers over things that are yet to come and certainly out of our control. The words that come to mind most quickly are from the lips of Jesus. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). I find an interesting honesty in those words. We might prefer that Jesus said, “don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will all be rainbows and lollipops.” But that would have been dishonest on Jesus’ part. Rather, he simply invites us to not borrow trouble from tomorrow. It is an invitation to trust.
Jesus doesn’t offer something new here. The confidence for such trust is woven into the history of the Hebrew people. “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 43:1). “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (Genesis 26:24). “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forever” (Psalm 121:8). If any nation knew hardship, it was Israel. If any nation knew the faithfulness of God to navigate through hardship, it was Israel. When Jesus comes along and says, “Don’t worry, because your heavenly Father knows what you need,” the people knew he was speaking truth.
Wisdom says be prepared for tomorrow. Faith says trust tomorrow to God. An old hymn of the church declares well the position of the faithful Christian. “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know that the Jesus who walks with me today is already in my tomorrow. If I am in his hands, my heart can find rest.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 