Faith in times of Crisis

 

Psalm 37:1-11 New International Version (NIV) - Of David.

1 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 Delight yourself 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.

Meditation by Dr J P Hunter

Knowing how to avoid fretting or worrying is a sure way which will lead to inner peace. Do not fret, v1 is the opening command of this Psalm, often easier said than done. The psalm writer advises to stop worrying about badly acting guys and avoid envying the ill-gotten gains and successes of those who do wrong, v1. Their triumphs are only temporary and will wither away like dry grass, v2. 

Instead: Trust in the Lord, v3. Delight yourself in the Lord, v4. Commit your way to the Lord, v5. 

Trusting is one of the surest ways to a right relationship with God. Trust requires commitment to Him. Trust can be grown through following the advice from verse 7: Be still before the Lord, repeated many times in the Bible. Delight in someone means to experience great pleasure or joy in his or her presence. That happens only when we know that person well. Knowledge of God’s individual love for each of us, will indeed give us delight. To commit ourselves to Him means to believe that He can better care for us, than we can for ourselves. And that He will surely lead us to our Heavenly home.

When we start fretting or worrying, we should think: trust, delight, commit and inner peace will again increase.

Prayer

Heavenly Father God, thank you that you are always there and that you hear my prayer.

Even if my steps are weak, may I learn to walk with you? Even if my eyes are dim, will you take me by the hand? Will you turn to me and teach me how to trust, to delight and to commit? So may I live this day and all my days nearer to you and grow in inner peace. Amen.

Hymn – Singing the Faith 107, verse 5

5 God’s hand is my perpetual guard,

   he guides me with his eye;

   why should I then forget the Lord,

   whose love is ever nigh?                                                                                            Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)