Be Still and Patient
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 brings wicked schemes to pass. (Ps 37:7)
Psalm 37 is a reflection of
David’s trust in the Lord and his patience waiting for the Lord to act. His
advice? Don’t envy evil people, even though some may be extremely popular or
rich. But trust in the Lord and do good, take delight in the Lord, and commit
our ways to the Lord. In other words, stop worrying and start shaping our lives
with the qualities mentioned.
To rest in the Lord is to commit
our ways to Him. “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it to pass” (Ps 37:5). To commit ourselves to the Lord means entrusting
everything—our lives, families, job, possessions—to His control. To trust in
Him is to believe He can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be
willing to wait patiently for Him to work out what is best for us.
We need to refrain from worry,
anger, and envy. These are destructive emotions. They reveal a lack of faith
that God loves us and that He is in control. To truly rely on God, we must calm
down. Difficulties will only be compounded in a chaotic heart. With strength
from God plus calmness, we can overcome problems and receive true rest.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But
let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing. (Jas 1:2-4)
We can’t really know our character
until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when
everything is going well. But can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and
complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our
struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth.
Ask God to give us patience and
strength to endure. Be still and wait patiently for Him!
Question for Reflection:
In which areas of your life do you
need to calm down and patiently wait for the Lord?
