Introduction: In this passage of scripture, the Psalmist is talking about fretting about evildoers and workers of iniquity in vs 1. Then the Psalmist proceeds with a list of things that we should do instead of fretting. There are many things that will make a person fret, in this case about bad people. But also a bad health report, a bad work report, bad school report, etc.
To fret is to worry; to wear away, to corrode.
Don’t Fret, instead:
- Trust in the Lord– vs3 To trust is to put one’s confidence in God. Many of you that are here this morning have trusted in the Lord for salvation however, have you trusted on Him with everything else going on in your life. Our trust must be in the Lord and not in: man, leaders, works, wealth, or weapons. Our trust is in God’s word and his promises. When you trust in the Lord he becomes your:
- Safety- Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe”. Safe- free from danger of any kind.
- Refuge and Fortress- Psalm 91:2 “I will say of the LORD, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
- Help and Shield- Psalm 115:11 “Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield”.
- Delight thyself also in the Lord– vs 4 To delight is to take great pleasure or satisfaction in the Lord; to please highly. Instead of worrying about a certain thing, issue, etc., Put away those things are making you fret and instead:
- Delight in God’s Word- Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night”.
- Delights in the Will of God- Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do thy will, O my God”.
- Delight in God’s Comforts- Psalm 94:19 “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul”.
- Commit thy way unto the Lord– vs 5 To commit is to surrender all that we are to Lord. The way God takes us may not be pleasing to us but it’ll be pleasing to God and we must follow all the way. God knows everything and why he does things. His ways are higher than our ways.
- Job committed his way to God even though he was going through a very difficult time- Job 1:21, 2:10, 13:15. Even after all this, Job stayed committed to God.
- Paul committed himself to the Lord even though it was difficult- II Corinthians 11:23-28
- The apostles left all to commit their ways to the Lord- Mark 10:28-30 “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee..”
- Jesus totally committed his way unto the Lord to the end- Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”.
- Rest in the Lord– vs 7 To rest is to be free from activity. To find rest in the midst of evildoers and trouble is a great thing. To find rest with all the chaos of life.
- You rest when you get in his Yoke- Matthew 11:28-30. First you must go to God. Secondly, you must take up His yoke.
- Mark 4:35-41- Jesus rested in the midst of a storm, so can we if we trust in him.
- You find peace, sweet rest, surrender, stillness when you find your rest in the Lord.
- Wait Patiently for Him– vs 7 This is the wait of patience and being stedfast under any circumstances.
- Wait patiently because God is in Control- We don’t have any control of anything, but God does.
- Wait patiently because we’re on God’s timing- At the time when God chooses, he will take care of a problem we may have. God is never late, He is always on time.
- Wait patiently knowing that God’s ways are perfect- Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect”.
- George muller who ran an orphanage trusted in God for the orphanage’s provisions and the baker and milk man would arrive just in time as they waited patiently for God to provide.
Conclusion: Instead of fretting about the situations you may be going through today, do the other things listed in this passage instead.
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