I have to confess that I fret. Lately I have been waking up around 5 a.m. and have trouble falling back asleep. The political situation in the United States, in particular, has made me very anxious. During the day I can push it to the back of my mind, but at night the anxiety rises up and makes me feel restless and upset. I know I am doing everything I can, and it doesn’t do any good to worry about the rest of it.
But my heart grieves for friends who have lost jobs. And I can’t understand why someone is allowed to ignore every law and stricture and get away with it. So I fret.
The Lord, in his great mercy, recently spoke to me directly, when I read Psalm 37:1-11. I read it the day after I had admitted to Tom my growing tendency to fret (and fret is the word I used). I read Psalm 37 a couple of hours after another wake-up at 4:30 a.m. Here is what it says:
Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
What a beautiful word from God. After I read this in my One Year Bible, I felt a peace and calm that I haven’t felt since January 20. I’m not sure how long it will stay with me, but it is a good reminder of the ways I am supposed to approach times of anxiety. Not only does Psalm 37 tell me not to fret, it also tells me how to avoid worrying.
Trust in the Lord (verse 3).
Do good (verse 3).
Delight in the Lord (verse 4).
Commit my way to the Lord (verse 5).
Be still and wait patiently (verse 7).
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath (verse 8).
All of those are things that I can do when I wake up early in the morning.
We live in difficult times but there are some things we can do. One thing we should not do – fret.
Thank you Lord, for speaking to my heart when I am anxious. I trust you and I know that nothing can defeat your ultimate plan. I will wait patiently and do as much good as I can while I wait. Keep me from evil and bitterness. I commit myself to you. Amen.
I really needed this post today. As another person who frets, I need to be reminded to trust in the Lord always. Thanks for sharing this and your faith.
I also need this every day, esp since Jan 20. And need the admonition not to blame those, esp in my family who hold alternate views. I still love them but it is hard!
Ah, yes, the world is such a different place compared to the “old days” when times seemed more simple, less fighting and people got along better. Worrying ourselves about things that keep us worked up and especially when we are unable to do anything about them can really make one fret. And yes, I do as well…but I continue working on it. He has the whole world in His hands. Thank you for another reminder.