When I was younger, I rarely worried about the future. I had plenty of time ahead of me, or so I thought. Retirement? It would work itself out. Besides, it was so far away.

How things have changed! The abundance of time I thought I had wasn’t so abundant after all. I don’t know what happened, but days just flew by like a video on fast-forward. And retirement? The nearer it gets, the scarier it becomes, although it’s still almost a decade away.

Whenever I’m in the US, as I was last year for a six-month home assignment, my stress level about the future increases. It’s probably due to the higher cost of living compared to the field—making me suddenly feel poor. However, whenever my fears take over, I know I face the choice of either wallowing in my anxiety or choosing to trust God. I’ve realized I need to base my security on God alone.

I don’t mean to imply that we shouldn’t make the wisest choices we can or plan for the future. But ultimately, we can’t rely on ourselves for our security, be it financial, physical, spiritual, or any other kind. Yes, we do the best we can, but God is the one who keeps us safe and supplies our needs.

Concerning the future, I’ve taken Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34 to heart. Jesus had just preached about how God supplies our physical needs, and he ended the passage by giving us the astonishing command not to worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough troubles without adding any extra concerns about the future. I’ve found that most things I worry about never come to pass, consuming needless energy that could be directed toward more productive endeavors.

I don’t know what the future holds. Unfortunately, God’s promises don’t mean that my life will be smooth sailing without a care in the world (would be nice!). But I do know that no matter what happens, I’m secure in God’s arms, and He will walk with me through whatever comes my way.