Whose Thoughts Are Racing Into Tomorrow

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

MARK AND I WERE WATCHING a presidential address on television. Government officials were announcing a stay-at-home order. Do you remember where you were in March 2020?

In that moment, I started thinking about what I had learned about the Spanish flu from books and movies. I was afraid the world was heading into a similar devastating event. I heard discussions about how people in my age bracket were the ones most likely to have severe consequences from this horrible virus. My thoughts began racing to tomorrow.

“How will we survive this?” I asked Mark, and we made a plan. It was simple. Our plan was to stay alive. We would sacrifice in the present so we could have a future with our children and family. We stayed home, and we avoided crowded places. We sat out family events. Mark was able to work from home, which was an amazing blessing. We ordered our groceries in and had them left on the black bench on our porch. We just kept saying, “One year for twenty more.”

We stayed as vigilant as possible, but at night my thoughts would often race into every tomorrow. Why wasn’t this going away? Would it ever end? We wanted our lives back, and we missed the ease of spending time with our children and grandchildren.

Momma, when difficult and unusual circumstances break in on your normal life, it is easy to look to tomorrow with fear. It can be overwhelming to not know how to process new experiences and uncertain times. The Lord knew days like these would come. We haven’t been promised an easy answer or an easy life, but God has promised this: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” As we pray tonight, let’s keep our thoughts on the One who is present in every tomorrow and who holds us today.

Tonight we pray for the momma whose thoughts are racing into tomorrow. Lord, no matter how hard she tries to stay in the moment, she can’t help but think about the days to come. She thinks of all the different ways things could turn out and worries about each one. Lord, Your Word reminds us that tomorrow will worry about itself. Help this momma catch her racing thoughts and hand them over to You. Help her focus on what You say is true. You are with her. You are loving. You will work it all out for the good of those who love You . . . and that includes her. Give her rest. Cover her with Your peace.

We ask in Jesus’s name, amen.

Lord, please show me where You are in this situation: