Matthew 6:25–34 + Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

In a world that rarely slows down, God invites us to be still. In this first season of Be Still: A Walking with Purpose Podcast, Lisa Brenninkmeyer explores six Scriptures that teach us how to stop striving, quiet our hearts, and trust Him in the middle of real life. Through the wisdom of the Bible and the companionship of great books, we’ll discover how God gently holds us steady and invites us to be still—right where we are.

How much of your life are you missing because you're worrying about tomorrow?

Many of us spend our days mentally living in the future—anticipating problems, rehearsing conversations, bracing for losses, and trying to control outcomes we cannot control. Meanwhile, the life we're actually living slips quietly past.

In this episode of Be Still, Lisa reflects on Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and Jesus' invitation in Matthew 6 to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

Anne's life was marked by uncertainty, disappointment, and longing. Yet she possessed a remarkable ability to notice beauty, delight in ordinary moments, and hope for goodness even when she had no guarantees about the future.

Lisa explores:

• Why fear often steals the present moment
• The difference between being childish and childlike
• How naming beauty helps us notice God's gifts
• What Jesus meant when He told us to consider the birds and lilies
• The hidden cost of waiting for certainty before allowing ourselves joy
• How friendship grows through ordinary, repeated moments
• Why wonder is not the absence of anxiety, but the decision to keep noticing beauty anyway

You may not know how your story will unfold. Anne didn't either. But neither of you has to know the ending to enjoy the chapter you're living right now.

This episode is an invitation to stop borrowing trouble from tomorrow and begin receiving today as the gift it truly is.

Journaling Questions

1. What future concern has been occupying my thoughts lately, and how might it be preventing me from fully receiving the gifts God is giving me today?
2. If I were Anne, what would I name as a "White Way of Delight" or a "Lake of Shining Waters" in my own life right now?

Key Scripture
Matthew 6:34. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.” (NRSV)

Show Mention
For the young girls in your life who need your light and need your voice and need your leadership in order to blot out the darkness in their world: learn more about BLAZE and the resources we provide to speak to her heart.
Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Walking with Purpose, Discovering My Purpose Bible Study for tween/teen girls.

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