Starting something new is exciting — until it isn’t. We dream, we plan, we get ready to leap… and then the questions creep in. What if it fails? What if no one shows up? What if I’m wrong?

Those “what ifs” have a way of robbing our joy before we even begin.

But then I remember Jesus’ words in Matthew’s 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” The birds don’t fret over tomorrow; they simply trust. The lilies don’t labor to be beautiful; they just grow. And yet, God provides for them. How much more will He provide for us?

Worrying won’t make a new project succeed. Overthinking won’t guarantee a goal. Faith isn’t about certainty, it’s about trust amid doubt. Trust that if a new effort or venture is meant to flourish, God will nurture it. Trust that even if it starts small, it may grow into something unexpected and needed.

It’s not that preparation doesn’t matter. But there’s a difference between wise planning and the kind of overthinking that paralyzes us. Jesus isn’t telling us to ignore challenges. He’s inviting us to trust that we are cared for, even when the outcome is uncertain.

So, we begin. Not with all the answers, but with open hands. Not with a rigid plan, but with willingness to adapt. My own projects may not look exactly as I imagine them now, and that’s okay.

Whatever you’re facing, whether it’s a new job, a big decision, or a change you didn’t choose, remember this: God’s care for you is not dependent on your flawless execution. Like the lilies, your work will grow into what it’s meant to be.

The Rev. Andrew McLarty is Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus.