This morning I read about the annual run up the Niesenbahn Funicular stairs in Switzerland–the world’s longest staircase. Then I did my Bible reading for the day, which included Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
Oddly, the two seemed connected. You see, if I ever had to climb 11,674 steps, I would absolutely shut down if I looked too far ahead. I might glance up occasionally to take in the lay of the land, but my attention would have to be fixed on where my feet were going next or I’d stumble and fall. I’d have to take things one step at a time, one ache at a time, one breath at a time.
I know this, because the times I become overwhelmed are when I look further into the future than I need to. Humans aren’t designed to see that far. When we’re confused, the brain tends to fill in the blur with dire predictions.
Read More: 12-Step Sayings for Everyone
Jesus knows this. He knows it doesn’t work to worry about step number 8,000 when we are on number 872. We get so weighed down by what we don’t know that we progress more slowly. We trip over a future that may never be and trip over things that may not exist.
There really is enough pain and struggle for today, and we don’t need to add tomorrow to our woes. We do better when we take one step at a time and take the steps only when we get to then.
