Stop Worrying and Start Trusting

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.  –Psalm 37:8, 9 (KJV) 

Have you ever found yourself fretting about a problem or issue you were facing and you just could not seem to let it go?  Might it be that I am “preaching to the choir?” for most of my readers will agree that they have been in that place?  So often I find myself fretting about problems that I know I must give over to the Lord.  We know that Scripture admonishes us to hand our trials, stresses, frustrations, and any crisis we face over to God, but yet we somehow want to hang onto them as if we can work them out better.  If we are not careful we are not only robbed of the peace and joy the Lord intends for us to have, but we also end up making a mess of whatever current problem we are facing.   

One of our greatest challenges as followers of Christ is to be lead by the Holy Spirit at all times and in all circumstances.  Being lead by the Spirit is entirely biblical, but being guided by anger and frustration is entirely of the flesh.  As the Bible so clearly points out, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”  (Romans 8:6).  When we are ruled by worry, fear, and anxiety, then we are being lead by the flesh, for our fretting and worries will ultimately be guiding us – typically away from where Christ would have us to be.  The end result is hostility and bitterness, which are emotions the Word of God warns us about.  However, to trust in the Lord, seek His will, and wait upon Him leads to life, joy, peace, and the ultimate resolution of whatever problem we are facing.  Trusting Christ and being lead of the Spirit empowers us to step back and trust God while allowing His will to be accomplished. 

I have long been intrigued with verse 11 of Psalm 37, which says, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”  Jesus made reference to this in the Sermon on the Mount.  We tend to think of meekness as being weak and unwilling to stand and fight.  But the word actually refers to a controlled strength that is ever trusting God and standing firm.  Meekness is not weakness, but rather it is willingness to trust God at all times.  Such a stance brings the power and blessings of God into our lives. 

What are you fretting about today?  Hand it over to God and leave it with Him.  Jesus Christ is greater and He will prevail – in us and through us as we trust in Him.