James T. Lima
As far back as I can remember, I have treasured the first flowers of spring. I remember as a small child looking every day in February into March along the south side of our house where the snow would start to melt to spot the first signs of crocuses and snowdrops poking their way through the soil. After long Wisconsin winters, even if the air was still cold outside, these little flowers stirred hope and anticipation of the warmer weather to come.
With this winter being colder and snowier than many others in recent memory, I found myself longing for the sights, sounds, and sunshine of spring more than a usual winter. Those of us in these northern climates are all too familiar with the increase in anxiety and depression that can come with the long, cold, dark days of winter. It is amazing how the presence of a few small purple, yellow, and white flowers along the foundation of your home can help melt away anxiety even as the remnants of the two feet of snow from the recent blizzard are still melting away along your driveway. Praise God for simple gifts like the hope-filled beauty of small spring flowers!
When it comes to anxiety, flowers do more than remind us that the days of winter depression are numbered, they also more importantly teach to us, by way of illustration, the providential care of our heavenly Father. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus calls his followers to not be anxious about their lives, whether it relates to food, drink, or clothing. As he so often does, Jesus illustrates this teaching. In this passage, he directs our eyes and our minds to birds and flowers.
First, he directs our eyes to the birds. He says in verse 26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” John Stott, in his book The Birds Our Teachers wrote, “It was Jesus Christ himself in the Sermon on the Mount who told us to be birdwatchers!” Have you slowed down to birdwatch and to consider how God provides for their every need? Have you considered, dear Christian, of how much more value you are to your heavenly Father than these birds?
Second, he directs our minds to the flowers. He says in verse 28, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like on of these.” If Jesus told us to be birdwatchers in the previous illustration, he now calls us to be botanists! Flowers do not labor for their beauty, they do not weave their clothing, yet God clothes them in beauty that exceeds the glory of kings, even Solomon (Matt 6:29)! If God clothes plants which blossom and fade, will he not clothe us (Matt 6:30)?
Do we see the illustrations of God’s providence and care that are all around us? You could say that God doesn’t just call us to be birdwatchers and botanists, but also soil scientists, dendrologists, geologists, ichthyologists, astronomers, and meteorologists. We ought to be observant of God’s world to make note of his created design and his providence. When we do so, our oft-anxious hearts are reminded again and again of the great power, wisdom, and care of God. We ought to also remember that this great God who created and upholds all things is also, in Christ, our God. We who know his redeeming love know also that he watches over us. Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from our Father in heaven; neither can a hair fall from our head, for they are all numbered, apart from God’s Fatherly will (Matt 10:29-30; Heidelberg Catechism Q&A. 1).
The first spring flowers do more than remind you that winter is coming to a close and warm weather is on the way. They remind you that the God who created the universe, who clothes and cares for even small, fragile, temporary flowers will clothe you as well! Flowers really are a cure for anxiety, ultimately because they direct our gaze and contemplation to the loving providence of our heavenly Father. Therefore, they are a beautiful (literally) reminder to cast our anxieties on God, because he cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
Since it is a good practice to learn to shape our prayers by Scripture, here is a simple prayer based on Matthew 5:25-34 that I prayed as part of a recent pastoral prayer which you may find helpful as you cast your anxieties on God:
Father, we thank you that in your compassion, you also watch over us and care not only for our spiritual needs, but also for our physical needs. We look at the birds of the air who neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet you feed them. We consider the lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin and yet are arrayed in glory greater than the robes of kings and remember that you also clothe us. Father, we are often anxious in this life about many things—food, finances, work, schedules, our health and many other things. Teach us, Lord, to consider that you are our heavenly Father and that we are of great value to you. Teach us also the futility of anxiety—that we don’t add a single hour to our life by being anxious. You know what we need. Help us to seek after you, your kingdom, and your righteousness. Amen.
