New School Year, New Anxiety

READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-13

As we approach the first day of school, there can be lots of anxiety. You might have been bullied last year, and you’re scared to have to go back to your nightmare. Or you might be going to a new school, and you’re worried about having to meet new people and start over. Or maybe you’re just nervous about the stress of your schoolwork.

In my own life, the beginning of the new school year means starting high school after being at my old school for nine years—elementary and middle school—and no one who went there is going to my new high school.

While all these are valid reasons for worry, the good news is, we don’t need to live our lives in a state of constant worry. God loves us, and He watches over us no matter our situation, and He has everything under control. He already knows what’s going to happen, and He promises to be with us through it all (Romans 8:28-39).

I was reading through the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible), and I found this verse that has helped me, not just with school, but with everything that stresses me out. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus says, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus tells us that we don’t need to be worried about the future because God already knows our needs, and He cares for us. So, instead of worrying about the future, Jesus calls us to pay attention to what’s going on in the present moment.

If you read verses 25-33, you’ll see that Jesus talks about how God cares for the animals and plants, so why wouldn’t He care for you? Remember, God has everything under control, and He loves you enough to help you. In fact, He loves you so much that Jesus came to die on the cross for your sins and rise from the grave to save you! So, whenever something is bothering you, you can go to Him, trusting that He will work in your life. Whatever your situation is, He cares, and He loves you more than you could fathom. • Alysse McGrew

• As you look ahead to the coming school year, what are you nervous about? How could it be helpful to remember that Jesus will be with you, providing for you?

• Bringing our worries to God doesn’t always mean our situation will get better right away. But even when we’re in the midst of a struggle, we can find comfort in Jesus’s presence with us. We can turn to Him with all our hurts and concerns, moment by moment. He wants to hear from us—not just our prayers of thankfulness and praise, but also our prayers of lament, where we honestly tell Him about the hard things in our lives, how we feel about them, and what we want Him to do about them. What do you want to bring before Him today? Consider taking some time to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind.

• If you or someone you know is being bullied, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it?

• We all feel worried or anxious from time to time, but God has so much compassion on us, and He wants to help us. Sometimes we experience thoughts and feelings that are too much for us to handle on our own, even by praying and reading the Bible. Thankfully, one of the ways God wants to help us is through other people, such as medical and mental health professionals. If you find yourself feeling afraid, stressed, or worried a lot of the time, or if you’re finding it difficult to rest, who is a trusted adult you could talk to?

• If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book...