For some, the challenge is simply making ends meet—balancing rising rents, grocery bills, and job demands while trying to stay afloat. For others, the demand for career advancement adds another layer of stress, with many feeling they must continually climb the professional ladder. Even leisure time feels crowded with obligations to attend events, juggle commitments, maintain friendships, and make meaningful use of every moment. Combined with the push to adopt sustainable practices and the unrelenting pace of technological change, these pressures create a whirlwind of expectations that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and anxious…

When the weight of these pressures becomes too much, many of us retreat into habits that offer quick relief but little resolution. We zone out in front of the TV, scroll endlessly through social media, or distract ourselves with shopping, snacking, or gaming. These behaviors give us a temporary escape from anxiety, numbing the stress and offering the illusion of rest. But often, they leave us feeling even more disconnected and drained, caught in a cycle of avoidance rather than renewal. Instead of addressing the deeper issues, we find ourselves stuck in routines that dull the edges of our anxiety without ever truly easing it.

This cycle of pressure and escape can feel like an endless loop, leaving us feeling stuck and uncertain about how to move forward. But Jesus offers us a way through the anxiety—a path that doesn’t ignore our struggles but reorients them. He calls us to seek first His Kingdom, shifting our focus from the endless demands of this world to the deeper purpose and peace found in Him.

"Seek First the Kingdom"

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addresses a universal fear that transcends time and culture: Will I have what I need to be okay? He speaks directly to the fundamental concerns of every human heart—food, drink, clothing, and shelter. These basic needs form the foundation of our sense of security. Yet, our desires extend far beyond these essentials to include belonging, achievement, and fulfillment. In modern societies, this list of “necessities” grows ever longer, driving much of our striving and leaving us overwhelmed by anxiety. This inner turmoil strains relationships, overloads schedules, and diminishes our ability to experience God’s presence. Yet Jesus offers another way. He invites us to reflect on how God faithfully provides for his creation—caring for the birds of the air and clothing the lilies of the field—and to trust that we are even more valuable to Him.

In response to the anxiety dominating our lives, Jesus doesn’t present a self-help solution or a quick fix. Instead, he calls us to reorder our priorities. Over and over, he asks, “What do you seek?” because he knows that our desires and pursuits shape the core of who we are. Whether it’s security, comfort, wealth, or relationships, whatever takes first place in our hearts will define us. When anything other than God occupies that place, our lives become disordered, and anxiety takes root.

Jesus teaches that true peace and flourishing come from seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else. This requires submitting to His reign, trusting in His care and authority over every area of life, and acknowledging our dependence on Him alone. When we align our lives with His priorities and His way of life, we are freed to experience genuine peace and able to live fully for His Kingdom in our daily lives.

The call to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” sounds pretty straightforward, but what does that actually look like in the complexity of our daily lives? How does it speak to the cross-pressures we feel—the demands to achieve, to keep up, to manage finances, and to balance relationships? Seeking God’s Kingdom invites us to reorient our priorities, shifting our focus from the fleeting pressures of this world to the eternal values of His reign. It means choosing trust over worry, generosity over comparison, and faithfulness over perfection. It’s not about adding another item to an already overwhelming to-do list but about letting God’s purposes shape our decisions, calm our anxieties, and give meaning to the chaos we navigate.