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1 Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, 2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. (Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 NIV)
Happy Thursday, Friend! Welcome the day as a blessing, gift wrapped just for you! We may not yet know what it contains, but we should, like children, eagerly unwrap it with confidence that if given by Mom or Dad, it might just be the greatest thing yet! Be a person of prayer and open the gift with prayer.
I once had a district superintendent that did not understand CAPS LOCK on the typewriter (Yes, I'm that old! Kids, ask grandma or grandpa what a typewriter is! You may be surprised to learn that it instantly printed to paper! No time for spooling or uploading!), and that it could work both ways. It seemed every newsletter, every letter he sent came to us as a SHOUTING MATCH! We knew him to be a calm enough guy, but something about sending all CAPS might have appealed to him. It served to usually scare us; then frustrate us. Yes, it caused us fret.
In this psalm, David encourages us not to fret or become envious of those who seem to prosper by evil means. In a world that often rewards the wrongdoers and the powerful, it can be difficult to understand why God allows such injustice. However, the psalmist assures us that these things are temporary—just as the grass fades and withers, so too will the prosperity of the wicked.
The key to navigating life’s challenges and uncertainties is to trust in the Lord. Trusting in God doesn’t mean ignoring the struggles or pretending that life is perfect. It means believing that God sees what we cannot and will act in His perfect timing. Our response, as believers, is not to fight in our own strength or fret over the wrongdoers, but to commit our way to the Lord, to be still before Him, and to trust that He will make our cause shine like the noonday sun.
This psalm teaches us about the peace that comes from trusting in God’s justice, especially when we may feel overwhelmed by the seeming triumph of evil. We are reminded that God is our refuge, our help, and our salvation in times of trouble. Just as Christ's light was revealed to the nations, His justice and righteousness will also be revealed. Those who are patient and trust in Him will inherit the land, experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promises.
As we reflect on this passage during Epiphany, we are called to align our hearts with God’s kingdom of peace and justice. Rather than seeking to avenge ourselves or grow angry at the wicked, we are to trust in God's perfect plan and wait for His righteous judgment. We are reminded to keep our hearts focused on God’s light and not the transient shadows of the world.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the light of Christ, which reveals Your justice, mercy, and truth to the world. Help us to trust in You, even when the world around us seems unfair or full of suffering. Teach us to be still before You, to wait patiently, and to commit our ways to Your care. Strengthen our hearts so that we may experience Your peace, knowing that You are our refuge and salvation. May Your justice shine brightly in our lives, and may we reflect Your light to others in all that we do. In the strong name of Jesus, we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time to reflect on areas where you may feel troubled by injustice or the success of the wicked. Practice surrendering these worries to God, trusting that He sees and will act in His time. Find ways to share the light of Christ by being a source of peace, justice, and encouragement to others who may be struggling with the same concerns. Let God’s justice shine through your actions.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
