Creation does speak. The night was dark, but the darkness gave way to the morning light. The sky is soft and calm, and the heavens beautiful with the colors of a new day. The songbird awakes, and she sings her song, welcoming the day.

Sunrise overlooking upper Escambia Bay Area

We live in uncertain times, and I understand the fear and anxiety we all face today. How many times have we rushed to the store thinking we need just one more thing to prepare. We get consumed with worry and anxiety, and they become cruel taskmasters driving us here and there. How do we overcome it?

We can learn a good bit from a walk outside. Turn off the tv and put down the phone. Walk outside and take a look at nature. What can we learn from it? Do you see birds anxiously storing up for weeks or flowers stressing out to blossom? Nature is full of lessons if we will take a moment to learn.

Let me draw your attention to a couple of quotes that have meant a lot to me.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [l]arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” Matthew 6:25-31

The quote is from Jesus. Notice how He uses nature to illustrate how God takes care of creation. Just as He cares for creation, He will also take care of you.

Anxiety and fear are not suitable for your health. Do you best to prepare, but at some point, you are going to have to trust in God’s provision.

I know this all too well. I found myself running to the store multiple times, thinking I need one more thing to prepare. I realize now we will always need just one more thing if we let fear drive us. So maybe instead of one more thing, a walk outside will do us well.

We have a lot of places on our website you can get outside in nature and take a walk. Maybe you can get some ideas of places you can go to get away and clear your head.

I do have one more thing. Remember this verse, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-9