These days, I have been very focused on several changes in my life, and around noon, while preparing my grated carrot salad with coconut oil, vinegar, and salt, I became so focused on making sure not a single drop of oil spilled that I ended up neglecting the meat I had in the pan. By the time I turned my attention back to it, it had already burned a little.
That made me think about how easy it is to become so focused on one thing that we end up losing sight of everything else. By paying so much attention to a few drops of oil, I neglected something else that also needed my care.
Sometimes our worries are like those drops: they consume so much of our attention that we stop looking toward God, the present, and the people around us (Luke 10:41–42).
The Bible warns us about living this way. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). We are also invited to lay down our burdens: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). We can take care of our responsibilities while also entrusting to God the things we cannot control.
When we hold on to our worries too tightly, afraid that everything might fall apart, we lose our peace and also lose sight of the gifts already before us: a conversation with a loved one, the beauty of everyday life, the opportunity to serve, and even fellowship with God. Eventually, our bodies and minds become worn out, and our relationships end up suffering.
We are neither omnipotent nor omniscient. We were never called to carry the weight of the world. That place belongs to God, and when we place our burdens in His hands, there is room to truly live: to breathe, observe, give thanks, share, rest, and attend to what truly matters.
Today, do something simple and practical: leave everything in the Lord’s hands. Say, “Lord, I surrender it all to You today.” Pray; go outside for some fresh air and look at the sky; read for a while without your phone; share a meal with your mind fully present. Examine your thoughts and open your eyes to what is happening right now. Do not let worry steal this day from you.
📸 Image taken by Ramón Sánchez
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