«And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are» (Matthew 6:28, 29, NLT)
WHAT WOMAN is not worried about clothes? In fact, this is a topic that awakens a certain amount of anxiety for the female gender: what will I wear to church this Sabbath; what will I wear for my friend’s wedding? I dare to speculate that when Jesus said these words, He was thinking about women like you and me, who would live in various stages of history and latitudes of the earth, and those for whom clothing would generate worry, whether for economic or self-image reasons. However, this, like everything else, is also a question of faith.«Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,» said Jesus. In fact, I do take notice of them because I have white lilies mottled with lilac in my garden. When they bloom, I enjoy their delicateness and the aroma they give off. Nature allows us to enjoy several types of lilies: white, red, blue, purple and they all can be made into exquisite perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and so on. In general, flowers of the field are of an unequaled beauty, and Jesus is asking us to consider them in order to stop being worried and trust that God will provide.
«If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? . . . Do not . . . have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God» (Luke 12:28-31). The fundamental matter is clear: we worry about guaranteeing our future (clothing to wear, food to eat, work to earn a salary) when, in reality, material things are the source of anxiety. The only security we can have is the one derived from a relationship with God that guarantees spiritual peace and eternal life. There are no certainties in life, but that is how God wanted it so that we learn to have faith. This does not mean that we do not watch out for the well-being of our loved ones, but that we do not worry about what the future will bring us. We are in God’s hands—the best hands.