“Therefore, take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (For the Gentiles seek after all these things.) For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things” (Matt. 6:31-32).
Danny and I have gone to the beach each summer for 48 years in a row. We love the beach, as do our children, and now our grandchildren. As I have shared with you previously, one of the things I enjoy the most is walking the beach early in the morning and watching the sunrise over the ocean. I love the sounds of the waves crashing and the sea gulls crying, the feel of the breeze in my face, the smell of the salt air. And I love the first glimpse of the sun’s rays coming up over the broad expanse of blue grey that is the Atlantic Ocean. From time to time, I have found a special shell: a sea urchin, a sand dollar, a conch. But this year I found something different.
Last summer, my youngest granddaughter, 8-year-old Riggin, found a pair of designer sunglasses that had washed up on the beach. When I admired them, she cleaned them up and gave them to me.
This year, as I was walking, I came upon a pair of black sunglasses lying in the surf. While they were not designer glasses, they were unscratched and undamaged. So I took them back to the house, cleaned them up and when Riggin awoke, I presented them to her. She grinned with delight as she placed them on her face.
My second granddaughter, Sophia, voiced her desire for a pair of sunglasses too. So when we went to the grocery store, I sent her to look through the racks of glasses. She didn’t find anything she liked, so she went without.
The next day, as I took my early morning walk, I looked down the beach and saw something in the surf. Unbelievably, it was another pair of sunglasses! These had pink rims and leopard print stems. They also were unscratched and undamaged. So I took them back to the house, cleaned them up and gave them with great pleasure to Sophia.
Two days later, on my early morning walk, I could hardly believe my eyes! There in the surf was another pair of sunglasses! Unscratched and undamaged! In almost 49 years, I have never found a pair of sunglasses on the beach. This year, within one week, I found three different pairs, on three different days.
I knew God was giving me a message. But what was it? While there may be more than one message attached to this experience, in reality He had provided sunglasses for me, so I could provide them for my grandchildren. And then I seemed to hear Him whisper: In the coming days of uncertainty and economic crisis, Anne, don’t worry about tomorrow. I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches in Christ Jesus. I am able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine (see Matt. 6:34; Phil. 4:19; Eph. 3:20).
I know He will be more than sufficient in the days ahead for me … and for my family.
So … don’t worry about tomorrow.
Anne Graham Lotz, founder of AnGeL ministries, has proclaimed God’s Word worldwide for more than 30 years. Her newest book, Wounded by God’s People, is available at annegrahamlotz.com.
