give us this day our daily fuel

Lewis explores the idea of energy again today in the February 17 selection from A Year with C.S. Lewis. 

He reminds us that there is no other fuel that we can run on besides God. We are designed by Him to need Him to function. He emphasizes that there is no other fuel, nothing else will fill us and give us the energy and joy we need for daily life besides Him. And he's right.

But one thing he doesn't mention is that we can't get filled up once and for all, and run for life. We actually need to refuel every day. "Give us this day our daily bread" is the way Jesus Himself put it. His mercies are new every morning - and we need them every day. He gives us what we need each day for that day, kind of like manna in the Old Testament. We can't store up His energy and "bread" today for our needs tomorrow.

This is important for many reasons, and one of them involves worry and regret. God has designed us to live in the present, not to worry about the future or regret the past. We need to confess our sins, then let them go. We need to trust Him to give us what we need tomorrow for tomorrow. He's very good at giving us what we need RIGHT WHEN we need it, not the day before or the day after.

I make this sound easy. It's not. Our brains like to worry. Or rather, they TEND to worry. Especially when you're vulnerable - sick or tired or sick AND tired. That's when it's important to remember how our bodies work. We are not MERELY chemicals and electric impulses... but we are MADE of them. And understanding that helps us a great deal in staying happy and trusting God when our bodies try to make us worry.

I might have shared this story already, so skip if you've already heard it. But when I was a Jesuit novice, I realized one day (with help from my director) that the reason I was worrying so much was because I was hungry. When I started eating breakfast every morning, my worry disappeared.

It might not be that simple for you. Some people have a chemical imbalance in their brain that makes worry and depression a serious, life threatening battle. We should never take this lightly, and sometimes meds are required to help treat these issues. But God is the grand architect who designed our bodies, so if you find yourself struggling with any of these issues, pray and ask for Him to guide you into the truth that you need to resolve what ails you.

He did just that for me.

Thanks, God, for giving us each day what we need. Help us trust you and not rush ahead or lag behind.