Living a life of worry and anxiety is not what God created us for. Yet when we are preoccupied with worry, it seems like we cannot turn it off. We find ourselves in conversations, but thinking about our issues. We try to pray, but cannot get our minds off of our anxious thoughts. Worry and anxiety literally put a stranglehold on our thoughts, steal our joy and turn our days (and nights) into one long, bad movie of anxiety.

The life of Jesus gives us a significant clue as to how we can live without worry and anxiety. It is something that took me years to realize, but when I did, it made all the sense in the world, and I now see that practice throughout the Gospel accounts. It is this: Jesus was always fully present in the moment and, in doing so, didn’t have time for worry.

Take for example the time when little children were “brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them” in Matthew 19. The disciples rebuked him because they saw the children as a hassle. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to these.” The disciples were distracted, but not Jesus. He was fully present and available to the children. We are not available when we are distracted, so being truly present is critical.

There are numerous times when Jesus was on His way somewhere specific, but the crowds kept following Him. In one instance, He was leaving Jericho and two blind men shouted to Him, “‘Lord, Son of David have mercy on us!’ The crowd angrily told these men to be quiet but they just shouted louder. Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you,’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:29-34).

In these and many other examples, we learn a secret to Jesus’ life. Wherever He was and whatever He was doing, He was always fully present. He was not distracted by the past or the future. He was just fully there - in the moment - engaging with the situation or the people at hand. Being truly present throughout our day drives out distractions like worry and anxiety. The clue in this account is that Jesus, being present, stopped and interacted with these blind men. He was on His way out of Jericho but was still present for those who needed Him.

What did Jesus do with his own concerns? He took daily time to be with the Father, away from the crowds and other distractions so that He could be fully present with the Father. It was there that He left His burdens and concerns. Again, by being fully present.

When you find yourself being distracted by worry and anxiety, remember that this is not how Jesus designed you to live. Be sure that you find a time each day when you can be present with the Father and leave your burdens with Him, even if they are the same burdens you have left for days before. That is where your burdens belong. Only He can carry our anxiety and worry and He wants to do that for us. And then, rather than ruminating on things you cannot change or cannot control, simply practice being present where God puts you in your day and with the situations or people God gives you. Don’t try to multitask by being distracted by worry. Simply pay attention to what is in front of you and leave your worries with Him and for your time with Him.

Father, I confess that I am often not fully present in the things and people You put in front of me due to my distractions. Help me to learn to be fully present so that I can be focused on those things You want me to focus on, and to leave my anxiety with You. Amen.