Lessons from Mufasa: Trusting God Instead of Worrying

Lessons from Mufasa: Trusting God Instead of Worrying

You’ve heard across a few articles about our dog named Belle. But I haven’t as frequently mentioned our cats, Mufasa and Scar (and for you 90’s kids, no, Scar hasn’t killed Mufasa – He’s just misunderstood ). Mufasa and Scar are brothers, and Scar is black and sleek while Mufasa is furry like a lion, of course.

Beyond his mane-like facial hair, Mufasa has the most carefree personality I’ve probably seen in my life of having cats. Most days when I get home from the office, you’ll find Mufasa resting on top of the fire pit. He might give you a look, or a meow, but he might just stay draped like a rug across the pit, soaking in the sun. And when Belle comes out of the house, bounding with energy, she’s bad to charge at Mufasa and Scar. Scar runs away, agitated and distressed. Mufasa, however, just sort of stands there and reacts by strolling past Belle. When Belle then proceeds to go to the bathroom, Mufasa will strut over to her and just sort of walk around her, observing the activity, unbothered by anything that has gone on or will go on that day.

In the mornings, Mufasa and Scar both wait for their breakfast. While Scar wanders around the bowl, Mufasa sort of just up and rubs his face on whatever is nearby, including your shoe, your leg, and the food bowl itself. After he’s done, he’ll sort of just flop onto the sidewalk and roll over, waiting for a rub. Mufasa’s days are filled not with questions about his next meal or the threat of a dog but with carefree ease, no matter what is or isn’t happening.

There might be a message in Mufasa’s way of life, and it might be found somewhere in Matthew Chapter 6: ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these…. ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…  ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

You see, Mufasa has many of the same needs as we do, and while his ability to think deeply may not exist, that doesn’t mean ours should always be operating. Instead, let us find ourselves unbothered by the barking dogs and questions about meal time that enter our minds. But let us instead use our minds and hearts’ ability to choose to believe God knows our needs and will sustain us. That he sees us and tells us to use our minds and hearts to seek him, alone.

Praying for you and me,

William