Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY TONY HOSS
There are times in our Christian lives that we struggle. It is not always the adversity of life that causes us to struggle but it is that we do not understand the adversities. Our struggles are not always an indication that we are about to lose our faith or leave the Lord. Simply put, we often struggle because we are confused about what is happening now. It is remarkable how that in our times, even the smallest troubles can cause so much stress in our lives.
King David is a perfect example of one great man who struggled at times in his life. We can see as we read Psalms 37, that David had frustration in his life. Seeing how he deals with his frustration can help us in our daily struggles. I find it amazing, knowing what David would go through in his life that he is able to say in verse one and in verse eight that we should not fret. He wants us to know that we need not fret because of the points he makes in between verses one and eight.
David reminds us in verse two that the prosperity of those who oppose the children of God is short lived. Like the seemingly prosperous grass that is mowed, so are the lives of those that oppose us in our fight for righteousness. In our lives our troubles are likened to green herbs. Evil doers, like the green herb, seem to be flourishing in their lives, but when the end comes it is to soon for them because it is too late to repair damage done to the soul. Their supposed lives of greatness and luxury will soon be over. We should never allow such a one that will soon come to an end to destroy our faith in God.
In verse three, David says, “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Our fundamental characteristic is one that says we always trust in the Lord regardless of how bad our lives may seem to be. We trust in God because He knows! He sees! He cares! While we often become depressed and turn inward and from serving God as we magnify our problems, we should allow these words of David to point us in the other direction. Instead of turning from God, David tells us that we should become active in our lives, doing good. Paul said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10 KJV).
From nearly the beginning of time, Satan has tempted mankind to find happiness in the world, fulfilling our own wants and the desires of our hearts. But David helps us to see that true delight in our lives is in God (Psalms 37:4). When we seek to find happiness outside of God and then stress enters our lives, we are ill-equipped to handle that stress and thus we face frustration. An event from the life of Christ helps us to make sense of this. In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” In this story one brother was denying the other his inheritance and he had asked Jesus to intervene. Jesus reminds us that true happiness is not found in earthly possessions. However, many today are so convinced that true happiness is found in the physical things of this world. Being convinced of such things many have lost sight of the spiritual blessings that are in Christ.
David said, “Commit your way to the Lord” (Psalm 37:5). We should remember Gethsemane; Jesus was so troubled with all that was happening, that He prayed to God. Jesus never wanted to lose sight of His purpose in life. He wanted God to be with Him in His hour of stress so that He would not fail in His commitment to the Father. We should know that anytime is the right time to pray to God. It is not wrong for us to pray even over the smallest matters. However, many people think that they can handle all of life alone, that is until they realize they are alone. Notice the prayer of Jesus in Luke 22:42. Jesus said, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Jesus knew that the Father alone knew the best way for things to be and that was a part of His prayer. The same should be for us.
Finally, David said, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). As people of God, we must learn to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us. Of troubles that come in life, some today say, “I just had to turn them over to God.” This is a proper attitude. We need to learn to lay our burdens down and patiently wait for God to deal with them. On this issue Paul said, “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
We live in a world that can cause the best of us to fret, however, if we trust in God, we should not fret over the stress this world can provide.
(Tony Hoss is minister at the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)