Read: Job 1:1-3, 13-21; 3:25; Matthew 6:33-34

Mom found Clare crying in the backyard, watching her dog, Sheba, paw at leaves in the flower bed. “What’s the matter, honey?”

“I don’t want Sheba to get sick,” Clare said. “I know the vet took that lump off her leg, but she said it could come back.”

“It could, but maybe it won’t,” said Mom. “It may never come back.”

“But what if it does?” Clare sniffed. “I don’t want Sheba to die.”

“Of course you don’t,” said Mom, giving Clare a hug. “But worrying about that is keeping you from enjoying her. You look just as sad now as you would if she died.” Mom bent down to pet Sheba. “Do you remember what happened to Job?”

“Job?” asked Clare. “You mean the man in the Bible?”

“Yes,” said Mom. “He had plenty to be happy about—a big family, lots of money. Then he lost everything. After Job’s problems started, he said, ‘What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.’”

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” said Clare.

“Wait! I have a point.” Mom dried a tear from Clare’s cheek. “All those years, he had his family with him. He had prosperity and success. Do you think his worrying helped him enjoy those things?”

“No,” said Clare, petting Sheba’s head.

“And did being afraid of losing everything stop it from happening?” asked Mom.

Clare hugged Sheba. “No. But what can I do about being sad? It doesn’t have an off button.”

“No, but we have a choice when it comes to worrying about sad things that might happen,” said Mom. “We can worry, which doesn’t help anyway, or we can remember that Jesus died for us and will always be with us and thank Him for the good things we have today—like Sheba. We can talk to Him about troubling things and trust Him to work them out. Job did that. He continued to love and believe in God.”

Mom picked up a ball and looked at Sheba, who wagged her tail. “I think she needs a playmate,” said Mom, throwing the ball.

Clare took off running. “Come on, Sheba! I bet I can get that ball before you do.” Sheba quickly caught up with her, and together they raced across the lawn.

–Elise L. Perl

How about you? Do you worry about what might happen tomorrow? If worrying keeps you focused on what might go wrong, you can’t enjoy what you have right now. When you start to worry, pray about the problem, and talk to a parent or another adult about it. Then choose to thank Jesus for the many blessings you do have and enjoy them as you trust in Him.

Today's Key Verse: Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Enjoy your blessings today