I couldn’t believe it. I’d crossed the Atlantic Ocean only to be stuck in a car with someone extolling the brilliance of my worst enemy an ocean away. My whirling thoughts obliterated the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding Alps.
Unsafe people live, work, and worship among us. We think if we can escape their presence and any reminders of them, we’ll have peace. My experience in Switzerland reminded me peace doesn’t come from distance from them but from closeness with Jesus.
My experience in Switzerland reminded me peace doesn’t come from distance from my enemy but from closeness with Jesus. #RechargeWednesday Click To TweetDavid knew something about being maligned. His king and later his own son tried to kill him. David shares his hard-earned wisdom in Psalm 37.
“Do not fret. Do not fret. Do not fret.
The Lord knows our tendency to fret. Look at these verses.
Do not fret because of evildoers…
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes…Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Psalm 37:1, 2, 7-8, NASB, emphasis added).
I fret over the news. I grumble when I can’t find something a loved-one forgot to put back. How much more tempting it is to fume when mean people intentionally wrong us.
Our Father understands. But He knows fretting causes harm. Brooding turns us into wrongdoers. Like those who harmed us, we injure innocent people.
Scripture reminds us to take the long view. This person’s influence seems like it will never end, but they’ll “fade like the green herb.” In other word, don’t trip on a blade of withering grass! Instead…
Do good and delight yourself in the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6, NASB).
Resting takes work. Notice the many positive alternatives God offers to fretting.
Clinging to God stops fuming and empowers us to overcome evil with good. We needn’t fear; unlike people, God is never taken in by our enemy’s slander. He exonerates those who commit their way to Him. With noonday clarity, He shows who is right and who is not. The ultimate judge knows the truth. And that is all that really matters.
While fretting turns us into evildoers, delighting in the Lord shapes our hearts to be like His. Our desires change. My Father, not mean people, determines my destiny.
While we may need to establish healthy boundaries, my time in Switzerland reminded me closeness with God protects us more than distance from our enemies. Those who trust in Him are never left as victims. In the end, we become victors!
Let’s choose to delight in Him instead of stewing over them.
Adapted from Give Yourself a Break:Discover the Secrets to God’s Rest.
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Such an important reminder and one that has been sadly missing from much of our talk and advice and online communications.
Barbara, Psalm 37 has spoken to me many times. I never tire of its wisdom.
What a comfort, Deb! Thank you!
Yes, Bethany. I love how God invites us to experience His comfort.
“Closeness to God is safer than distance from our enemies. ”
Yes! He is ever present!
Michele, we see that played out in biblical lives over and over again. “Draw near,” is always a good choice.
Debbie, such fresh insight and wisdom here! The thoughts that rest takes work and distance from our enemy doesn’t make a difference but closeness to Jesus does, resonated with my heart!
Karen, it’s a paradox, but resting does take work! Thanks, friend.
This is gold. I shared on Twitter.
Thank you, Lauren!