L. C. FOX-SMITH - 08/08/26 - Many of the stories associated with Saint Neot involve the animals of Cornwall’s fields, forests and hedgerows. One such story ties in beautifully with my search for the county’s forgotten holy wells.
It is said that Saint Neot lived beside a well where God provided him with a fish each day for his meal. He was allowed to take only one, trusting that another would be waiting for him the following day. It was a simple lesson in faith: receive what is needed today and trust the Lord with tomorrow.
One day, Saint Neot wasn't feeling at all well. His servant wanted to help him, so he took two fish from the well, then cooked and prepared them both in the hope it would help Saint Neot's health improve. When Saint Neot discovered what had happened, he prayed and ordered both fish to be returned to the water. They were restored to life, and the daily gift continued.
The story reminds us how easily our planning can turn into a lack of trust and disobedience. God calls us to depend upon Him one day at a time. Yet we often try to take back control, doubt His provision or gather more than we need because we have plans of our own. I have seen this happen time and again in my life.
Planning can give us a sense of control, but it can also become a source of anxiety. Jesus warned against this in Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
I’m reminded of the words of the old hymn: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Perhaps that is the heart of Saint Neot’s story: gratefully receive what God provides for us, obey what He asks of us, and trust Him with tomorrow’s worries.