And Why do You Worry about Clothes?

"Therefore do not worry about your life. What you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6: 25

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lillies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'what will we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:28-33

I read this last night, and patted myself on the back. Scott was out of work for a month due to the mandatory 30 days off for casual laborers at GSU (no pay), we've had seemingly endless car trouble (expensive), and paid several moving expenses like Uhaul and paint supplies. We literally have about $30 in our checking account right now and close to $1,000 charged on our cards from car trouble and moving expenses alone. On top of this, I have had 4 friends and/or ministries ask us for money lately. I'm not saying all this to make you feel sorry for me and I'm certainly not asking for money, but I wanted you to know the extent of our financial burden right now. And here comes the back pat--I'm not worried about it at all! I read this passage and smiled and nodded my head and said a little thank you prayer. I know that God will provide for us and give us everything we need. I'm just patiently waiting for things to even out again. Great! Right?

Well, this morning I had to stop and think back through the verse I had so casually read. I was getting ready and, given my nature of procrastination, I had not given any thought to what I would wear today until 20 minutes before we had to leave for work. I pulled on a pair of hand-me-down pants from Scott's mom that no longer fit her and a hand-me-down shirt from Scott's sister that she didn't like anymore. I frowned at my reflection. I tried playing around with the shirt--buttoning different buttons. I sighed and went to my pile of shoes. Nothing looked good with the outfit. I decided the shirt was the problem. I tore it off and tried on an old shirt that I've had for a little over 2 years and am therefore sick to death of. (Girls...starting to sound familiar? Guys...sorry this is so boring!) I put on the best shoe match I could think of, still not satisfied, and left the house thinking I look like a blimp and I hate my clothes. I took one last look at my closest, groaned, and exclaimed, "I hate my clothes! Nothing goes together and nothing looks good on me anymore and they're all cheap and ugly!"

I then rushed to smear makeup on my face in our last 3 minutes before leaving while my poor husband resigned to making my lunch for me and politely asking if I wanted to take my book to read during lunch. I was fuming inside and out. My self-esteem had plummeted and my frustration had lead to a clammy face which made the makeup difficult to apply and I was running out of time. GRRR!!! I thought to myself, I know God is going to provide all we need, but what about all we want? He's not going to give me new clothes when I have a whole closet full already! I know our bills will be paid, but am I ever going to be able to buy new things that I want?

Then God told me to remember the verses from the night before. Why do you worry about clothes? Pagans run after these things. If God clothes the lillies, will he not clothe me? O, me of little faith!!! I'll sheepishly retrieve that back pat now...

God knows what we need better than we do. And He knows what we want. And He wants us to have good things and blessings in abundance. Is God going to give me a surprise $500 to go on a shopping spree with? Probably not. But He will make sure I have enough clothes and if I really need some new ones (which I think I might...), He'll provide a way for me to get some. But I can't be greedy, impatient, or demanding of these things. And I certainly shouldn't spend my time worrying about them. If God clothes his creation in unspeakable beauty, how much more will He clothe me? Again, I'm not talking expensive, closets full of clothes, but He will make sure I have what I need. Just when I think I know it all, God goes and shows me how much I still have to learn...imagine that!

Here's my plan, and I encourage those who struggle with this (or wants/needs of any kind) to join me.

1. be THANKFUL for what I DO have. Just b/c I might be tired of my clothes, doesn't mean I don't have any. I'm blessed to have several things to wear. There are so many people in the world with next to nothing.
2. Talk to God about it. There's no sense in hiding the fact that I want new clothes from God. He already knows. I can share this desire with God, but rather than just pray for new clothes, I want to ask God to redirect my heart to Him and help me trust that He will provide and that I need not worry.
3. The things that really don't fit anymore and just make me feel bad about myself when I try to force my body into them...DONATE to people who aren't as fortunate as me.
4. Give myself more time to get ready in the morning or (better yet) pick out my clothes the night before. And not just pick them out, but put them on and make sure I'm satisfied with them. That way I don't have to worry about starting my day out on a sour note.
5. Make my husband lunch tomorrow because he is the most patient and understanding man and he deserves it! :)

There are so many more important things in life than what I'm wearing. Why worry so much about it? Why let it consume me? And by worrying about it, I'm actually saying that God isn't good enough or powerful enough to fulfill my needs and I am not satisfied with what He has given me. Do I really feel that way? Do I want to feel that way? NO!!! So, be careful what you complain about and think about what you're really saying by complaining. Do you really mean that? I need to take my attention off the mirror and focus it on God. Then how could I be dissatisfied? "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."