“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
— Matthew 6:34
Anxiety is, at its core, a concern over the future. It is taking thought for the morrow—the very thing Jesus warned His disciples not to do. We do not live in tomorrow, and worrying about it is both fruitless and destructive. Anxiety drains our productive energy, weakens our bodies, and erodes our spiritual well-being.
Anxiety does not need to be managed indefinitely—it must be confronted daily. The battle is not tomorrow’s battle; it is today’s. Here are three biblical ways to deal with anxiety—one day at a time.
1. Put Yesterday and Tomorrow Back into God’s Hands
Someone once said, “We often die between two thieves: yesterday and tomorrow.” How true that is. Yesterday’s failures—or even yesterday’s successes—can overshadow today’s responsibilities. Tomorrow’s uncertainties can paralyze us before the day even begins.
God never asked us to carry the weight of time. He asks us to trust Him with it.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)
Yesterday is unchangeable. Tomorrow is unknowable. But today is manageable—by God’s grace. Each morning, we must deliberately place yesterday and tomorrow back into the Lord’s hands and walk forward in obedience today.
2. Make the Most of Your God-Given Relationships Today
John Edmund Haggai wisely said, “Yesterday is a cashed check and cannot be negotiated. Tomorrow is a promissory note and cannot yet be utilized. Today is cash in hand. Spend it wisely.”
Imagine being given $86,000 every day—with the requirement that it must be spent by the end of the day. Most people would rejoice at such a gift. Yet every one of us is given 86,000 seconds every single day of our lives. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)
No one on their deathbed ever wished they had worked more overtime, driven a nicer car, or lived in a larger house. Regrets at the end of life are almost always relational—relationships with God, with family, with God’s people, and with a lost world.
Anxiety often grows when relationships are neglected. Peace grows when relationships are prioritized. Spend today strengthening the relationships God has entrusted to you.
3. Be a Faithful Steward—Just for Today
Anxiety is frequently fueled by comparison. We become discouraged because we are not the “superstar” parent, employee, or Christian that someone else appears to be. Scripture is blunt about this mindset:
“…comparing themselves among themselves… are not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12)
If God wanted you to be someone else, He would have made you someone else. God does not require greatness—He requires faithfulness.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (I Corinthians 4:2)
The faithful steward looks at a vast forest and does not despair. He picks up his axe and cuts down one tree at a time. David did not become king overnight. Esther did not become queen in a moment. Joseph did not rise to power in Egypt in a single day. Daniel did not become a trusted counselor instantly. Each of them arrived where God placed them by faithfully living one day at a time.
This principle applies everywhere—in parenting, teaching, pastoring, and even business. God does not ask us to carry a lifetime today. He asks us to be faithful today.
Bill Gates observed, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
Baptist Missionary William Carey—”the father of modern missions”—said it even more humbly: “If the biographer gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly… I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”
Anxiety is defeated not by heroic leaps, but by faithful steps—taken one day at a time, with God.