“An antidote to worrying and fretting”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Thursday, January 19, 2023
Psalm 37:1-40 (Forward, p. 81) CEV p. 576
In the world of medicine researchers go to incredible lengths to try to find antidotes to deadly poisons. In fact, I once read of a man who not only searches out vicious, poisonous snakes and other reptiles, but even allows himself to be bitten by them in order to produce antibodies to their fatal toxins. It may well seem as if he is taking it to extreme lengths, but he figures that it is worth it if it saves lives.
Well, pretty well all of us are subject to yet another deadly, vicious toxin, namely worrying and fretting, usually about things over which we have no control at all. It may be concerning the weather or our health or political events—or even over something as mundane or ordinary, or as close to home—as some difficult or trying family member or neighbour or church associate.
King David, as a ruler, knew all too well what this was about, except for him, the worries came in the form of dissension or intrigues within his palace or kingdom or in the form of enemy threats from outside his realm. Whatever it was, he had discovered the antidote and this he shares with us in today’s psalm.
The antidote is simply to trust in the Lord, to let the Lord lead you and let Him help you. And furthermore, to do what the Lord wants and do what is right. Our troubles and worries, the things that we worry and fret about, will disappear. So, he says, be patient and don’t let any of things bother you. And, certainly, don’t get angry or furious about them, for doing so can lead to sin and have serious consequences. No, our psalmist says, our troubles and worries ‘will have their day’ but will soon be gone. The Lord is on our side and will one day set everything to right. So, the antidote is simply to trust, and wait for His good timing.
And, what the apostle Paul adds (Philippians 4:6-7) is that we should be specific and deliberate in also taking our worries and concerns to the Lord in prayer, to specifically name them, and then, to thank Him, thank Him in advance, for His provision in dealing with those obnoxious and concerning things. Once again, the powerful antidote is simply in trusting the Lord.
And, in case we are hesitant about this, let us remember that our Lord Jesus Christ has ‘been down this road before’ and has faced all these things, and dealt with them, Himself—and furthermore, dealt with them successfully. That means that whatever our worries or concerns might happen to be, He is more than competent and able to deal with them. Amen.
Forward notes: “Take delight in the Lord, and he shall give you your heart’s desire” (verse 4).
“I was once taught that translation was making the past speak to us. I was inspired to study ancient Greek in school because it gave me a very small window into the time of Jesus and his disciples. Over the years, I’ve learned that our individual translations are equally as powerful. The Holy Spirit continues to breathe life into the words of Holy Scripture, allowing them to speak to our circumstances.
“So, it is a delight and surprise whenever I hear a familiar verse in a new way. I remember a sermon where the preacher changed the emphasis in today’s psalm: ‘God shall give you your heart’s desires.’ I’d always understood it as God answering our prayers. Suddenly, I heard it in a new light: I often don’t even know what the desires of my heart are. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, much less my future. But God does. All these things are dear to the heart of God. God is the very author of all love and goodness in our lives. Draw near to God in prayer, and God will reveal the desires of your heart to you.”
Moving Forward: “Can you recall a time when a sermon or reflection prompted you to think of Scripture in a new way?”