Four Steps for Anxious Situations (Psalm 35-37)
Feeling anxious about a problem? Psalm 37 offers calm and clarity reminding us to trust God and not panic when things feel out of control.
Psalm 35-37
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Are you faced with a problem that leaves you feeling anxious?
If so, there might be no passage in all of Scripture that is more encouraging than Psalm 37. It is reassuring and probably one we should memorize and put on a 5x8 card in our wallet or purse. The first seven verses are especially impactful, with several key words that stand out.
1 Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act,
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.
7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.
Verse 1 cuts to the heart of the matter. To “be agitated” means to kindle oneself or burn with anxiety. It’s what happens when our stomach is tied up in knots. From there, David gives four key words translated as “trust,” “delight,” “commit,” and “silent.” As Michael Wilcock writes, “The many imperatives in this section—do this, don’t do that—are not meant to be taken as orders…Rather they are exhortations, reasoned and affectionate.”[1]
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines trust as the “belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective.”[2] To delight is to take exquisite pleasure in and to enjoy oneself. The Hebrew word for commit literally means “to roll,” thus suggesting that God’s will for our lives is to roll our burdens onto his shoulders. And then to be silent or still conveys a sense of stopping one's activity to recognize and submit to God's sovereignty.
Notice the natural progression. Trust gives way to delight. Delight helps us commit. And commitment helps us rest. If you are feeling anxious or worried today, take some time to reorient your heart and walk through these four steps. As you do, your confidence in God will grow as your fears shrink.
