Certain people strike us with their sense of calm and serenity, with how they remain composed despite adversities and setbacks. And we wished we could be like them, given our natural tendency to worry about anything. Worry and anxiety can be caused by the fear of losing—losing what we treasure the most: things, people, our own life.

Anxiety can also hide our overdependence on ourselves rather than on others and on God. But once we realize that in this world everything that we have is gift, that everything here is transitory, and that there is a God who constantly loves us, and who destines us for eternity, we begin to be less anxious and focus more on enjoying what we are blessed with, no matter how seemingly small.

Peace and serenity are born of faith and trust in God who controls everything. We can, indeed, learn from the birds in the sky and the wild flowers and grass of the field that do not worry about their lives but are nonetheless provided for. We are much more than birds and wild flowers, as Jesus reminds us.

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’

All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”