Psalm 37: Fret Not Yourself

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:1-4

"Fret not yourself!" commands the psalter. But how? How can we not fret ourselves? How can we not get frustrated with the world, get angry with those around us, and lose hope in our cirumstances? For this world is so dim, these trials are so hopeless, and this life is so dull. How can we not fret? Because the Lord is here.

Many times we get so caught up in the affairs and trials of this world that we forget the God who is in control over the world. We get so lost in anything from the "big world" trajedies (such as corrupted American politics, school shootings, and world wars) to the "small world" personal trajedies (such as a troublesome relationship, a tough work circumstance, or a stressful week), and in the end we forget the God who is in control. "Fret not yourself because of evildoers," the psalter says. In other words, it does not matter what is happening to you: you are commanded to not fret. Though it may bee like you are being insulted, persecuted, slain, and even destroyed, God commands us to fret not. It does not matter what circumstance we are in, we are to not fret. But how?

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4). How in the world are we to not fret? How can we remain in peace in such tough circumstances? Because the Lord is here, and he promises to give you the desires of your heart if you only delight in him. Do you wish to get what you want when you want it? You can! All you have to do is simply desire the things of the Lord. For what would God hold back from you after he has already gave up his son (Romans 8:32)?

If we get caught up in and take great desire in the affairs of men, we will fret--but the Lord has a better way. Fret not! And desire the things of the Lord! Do not place your hope in the affairs of this world, but rather take hope in the fact that eventually...

"The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."*

Eventually, justice will come, but in the waiting, fret not yourself and delight yourself in the Lord rather than the affairs of men.

*"Christmas Bells," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow