FRET NOT, TRUST GOD
Sometimes, life can be quite frustrating. Frustration could come about when you are unable to get things right no matter how much you tried. Our frustration could easily boil when we look at how unfair life could be to us. Why is it that the bad people are the ones who always prosper? And the more you ponder over such issues, the more likely you are to fret over this.
The psalmist began Psalm 37 with these words: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Ps. 37:1). The word “to fret” has a lively image associated with fire. To fret is likened to the glowing charcoals in a BBQ pit after having been fanned for some time. It is not about a strong burning fire but the beginning of a strong fire. Transport this idea to describe our emotion, to fret simply means the beginning of a glowing fire of anger in us. If our fretfulness is left unchecked, it will turn into a huge fire that will not only destroy others but also ourselves. Fretfulness will rob us of our joy and peace.
Thus, the psalmist reminds us that it is a waste of time to wring our hands in fretfulness and frustration over the work and prosperity of the wicked. Their success and boastings would be merely temporal and worthless. True, at the moment, the wicked ones may seem to have everything their way. But very soon, they will fall and will be cut off. One day, they will have to meet God face-to-face and have to answer for their actions. God will judge them according to their evil deeds. Whatever gains they made will be meaningless.
So, rather than feeling frustrated, we are urged to trust in the Lord (Ps. 37:3). To trust in the Lord means to have faith and confidence in God, His sovereignty and wisdom in the affairs of this world and in our lives. In order to trust God, we must first know Him and know His ways. When we understand more about God, then it will be easier for us to trust Him. We know that God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us; in His great love, He will always wills what is best for us; and in His complete sovereignty, He has the power to bring the best to us. That is the God whom we believe in and whom we can trust.
Second, the psalmist also urges us to delight ourselves in the Lord (Ps. 37:4). To delight ourselves in the Lord means to take pleasure in, and to enjoy God. We acknowledge that all that we have, all that we are and all things that happen to us are under the control of God. The emphasis of the psalmist is not on just acknowledging God but to take delight in the Lord. The circumstances in the world may make us fret, and rob us of our joy. What we need to do is to shift our focus away from these things and to turn our eyes unto Jesus. When we feel the presence of God in our lives, regardless of the circumstances in life, we will find joy and peace amidst the storm.
Next, the psalmist urges us to commit our ways unto the Lord (Ps. 37:5). The word “commit” means “to roll over.” It means that we are to surrender ourselves unto the Lord and to transfer over our burdens unto the Lord. What are the burdens that you are bearing today? Sometimes, our burdens may not be that heavy. However, if we are not careful, little weights can turn into a big burden, if we continue to hold to it for a long time. Let us learn to cast our burdens unto the Lord (Ps. 55:22; cf. 1Pet. 5:7).
Finally, the psalmist urges us to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him (Ps. 37:7). Again, the word “rest” is an interesting word which means “to be silent.” To be silent in the Lord implies that we should not blame God for things in our lives. We should never use God as a punching bag of our frustration. Do not blame God for the bad things which happen in our lives. Instead of ingratitude, fill your heart with gratitude for His sustaining grace. Let us also learn to wait patiently for Him. The phrase “wait patiently” connotes the idea of pain. When we are in pain, all we think about is a quick relief. But the reality is that pain often takes a long journey to complete recovery. When the psalmist says we are to wait patiently for the Lord, it means that we have to be longsuffering and patient for the Lord’s sake. You have to cultivate patience to overcome a fretful heart.
We must not only learn to be patient with others but also with ourselves. We must let things work out in God’s timetable. Do not complain and murmur against God. Listen to the words from Lamentations: “25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD” (Lam. 3:25-26). HCL.
