Take a moment and think about some of your greatest causes of frustration. If you’re like others, then people may be a common source of frustration. People can bring about our greatest joys in life, but they can also be the cause of some of our greatest sorrows. Perhaps you can identify with the cartoon character Linus who famously quipped, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.”

David gives us a helpful perspective in Psalm 37. This is a wisdom Psalm contrasting the security of the righteous with the insecurity of the wicked. He commences the Psalm with a precept that we are not to fret about those who seek to do evil to us,

Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. (Psalm 37:1)

The Hebrew word translated “fret” is a root  word that means to burn and figuratively it means to be angry or frustrated. David reinforces this point later in the Psalm,

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. (Psalm 37:7-8)

This is good advice, but practically, how do I stop fretting? Fretting is an emotion, how do we control our emotions? We must realize that we have control over our thinking and our behavior. Since we can choose our thinking we can indirectly control our feelings and physiology by how we think and act. Your thinking influences your feelings. The Psalmist provides an answer how to stop fretting earlier in this Psalm,

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:5)

To commit or trust conveys the idea of fully placing your confidence in another with a sense of security. When you place your full confidence in God then He will do it. Have you committed your way to God? You must realize that He may not bring the outcome you want – but it will be the outcome you need. If you have committed your way to Him the outcome is secondary because you’ve surrendered your will to His will. David’s son, Solomon, writing in the book of Proverbs makes the same point,

Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Perhaps you’re experiencing the disquietude the Psalmist describes by those who are causing you frustration. The good news is you don’t need to fret – His commandment is your enablement! Don’t allow others to control your emotions and cause you to fret. As you commit your way to the LORD then He will take care of the outcome. Be encouraged by David’s promise of consolation as he closes this Psalm,

The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm 37:40)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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