We live in topsy-turvy times. My life right now is especially so. God is here in the midst of it…I know He is. I see glimpses of His hand in my circumstances at every turn. And yet….sometimes, worry sneaks up on me. I’m going along fine, deciding what to sell and what to keep, sorting, organizing, packing boxes and…BAM! The questions start in my head. Where are we going to live? What if it we can’t find work? Why is this happening? Before I know it worry has slithered its way into my head and boy, does it have a firm grip!

The first seven verses of Psalm 37 have helped me a lot.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked
      or envy those who do wrong.
 2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
      Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

 3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
      Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
 4 Take delight in the Lord,
      and he will give you your heart’s desires.

 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
      Trust him, and he will help you.
 6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
      and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

 7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
      and wait patiently for him to act.
   Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
      or fret about their wicked schemes. (NLT)

Notice that this passage is bracketed with two admonitions to not worry. In the middle is four steps that can us get the upper hand on this joy-robber.

1. Trust in the Lord and do good. (v. 3) God promises to provide my needs. He promises that He will work all things together to make me more like Him and bring Him glory. Lack of trust in these promises makes me fretful. Faith and works go together so I need to continue to serve Him while I wait on His timing.
2. Delight in the Lord. (v. 4) To delight in Him is more than just being thankful for what He does for me. It speaks more to reveling and finding great joy in who He is.
3. Commit everything I do to Him. (v. 5) “Commit” means to” throw my burdens.” Doesn’t that sound great? I can just picture taking a big load of stuff that bogs me down in worry and chucking it over a cliff! But actually it’s better than that because the burdens aren’t just thrown off me…they are given to Him!
4. Be still in the presence of the Lord. Ah, peace and rest. That’s what my worried soul yearns for! This brings to mind Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (NASB)

Trust, delight, commit, be still….take these to heart my friends and find peace for your weary soul!