“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”
(Psalm 37:1-9)

---

David, a man after God’s own heart gives us some very inspired instruction and direction in Psalm 37:1; when he says, “fret not.” Surely, David writes to us with the experience of his own heart trouble, for he had much to fret about. Now, I will be the first to admit that our fallen, sinful nature is prone to fretting and worrying about almost everything. Most of us have a worry-wart nature! Fretfulness and worrying are sins of their own punishment. How dreadful it is to lay awake all night worrying. But, David also gives us a sure cure for fretting in the following verses. He gives us a sevenfold cure!

1) “Trust In The LORD.” (Psalm 37:3) 

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will cure fretting! When we trust Him to provide all our physical and spiritual needs (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19), we find comfort. We don’t look to the deeds or strength of the flesh to find our comfort, but to Him alone. We are to trust Him at all times (Psalm 62:8).

2) “Delight thyself also in the LORD.” (Psalm 37:4)

Rejoicing in the LORD also is a sure cure for fretting (Philippians 3:3)! When we are taken up with the glory of His person, the power of His atonement, the freeness of His grace sureness of His mercy, it leaves no room for fretting.

3) “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” (Psalm 37:5)

The marginal reading is, “Roll the whole burden of life upon Him” Peter put it this way, “casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you” (1st Peter 1:5). When we realize that our Heavenly Father does all things well, surely we can commit our way to His wise providence and stop our fretting (Romans 8:28).

4) “Rest In The LORD” (Psalm 37:7)

Our Lord Jesus Christ having accomplished salvation for His elect, entered into His rest (Hebrews 1:3). Let us learn by His grace to cease from going about to establish a righteousness (Romans 10:4) and make haste to enter into Him by faith and rest (Hebrews 4:10). When we are busy resting we have no time for fretting.

5) “Cease from anger.” (Psalm 37:8)

When we try to take the matters into our own hands, we are bound to create a sure mess of things. Remember, that the wrath of man will never work the righteousness of God (James 1:18). God will take care of the sheep and subdue all our enemies under our feet (Colossians 2:14).

6) “Depart from anger.” (Psalm 37:27)

We are exhorted in the scripture to put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:8-15). By God’s grace and power He does restrain the believer from living for self and to strive to live for the glory of God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

7) “Wait on the LORD.” (Psalm 37:34)

We wait with great expectations on the certainties of His promises (2nd Peter 1:4). God’s purpose of grace and mercy cannot fail (Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 43:1-5). Believer, fret not.

---

T. Harding