Fret Not

7/4/2020

Psalm 37:8 “Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing.”

Fret (noun): a state of anxiety or worry

Our country is currently in a state of collective fretting. There are so many things that we are scared of or worried about right now: the spread of Covid-19, the proliferation of radicalism, massive job losses, and general divisive speech surrounding race, equality, age, religion, and politics. A lot of people are yelling, fighting, and blindly bending, but who of us are really listening to one another? Even more importantly, who of us is on our knees praying? This verse states that fretting brings about evil doing. I think we can all clearly see the truth in those words. Chambers writes, “This ‘don’t’ must work in the days of perplexity as well as in the days of peace, or it will never work. Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself” So, how do we keep from worry when all around us seems to be spiraling out of control? We must come humbly and reverently before our Lord, for He alone is our true comforter and strength. If we truly believe that His word is indisputable, than we can have complete confidence in what it says and not fret. We can trust that God is omnipotent and is fully in control of anything that could possibly happen. We can rest in the comfort of His peace.

Chambers also writes, “Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way.” So true. Whether we want peace, prosperity, and health for our family or the entire world, we must trust in God and His plan. Nothing is impossible with or for God, and our job is to trust Him in and for all things. Fretting occurs when we take control, and our minds and souls are out of balance with God. Jesus wants us to rest in Him completely and not in our own understanding, for Satan can so easily twist reality and bring fear if we let him. He knows our weaknesses, so we must seek God in all things to find strength and peace in our Savior.

Philippians 4:6&7

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.