The word “fret” in today’s vernacular normally means being worried or anxious about something that we believe we have little to no control over. However, in the days of King David, when he chose this word, “fret” often connoted the idea of being very angry at someone because of them or their actions.

An example of “fretting” today might be you or me at the apparent injustice that is happening ahead of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Regardless of what you think of Kyle’s actions, there should not, under any circumstances, be threats from groups that promise to dox people or destroy if the “correct” verdict is not returned. This should never be happening, but because of the way BLM and AntiFa has had free reign in numerous American cities, with police being repeatedly told to stand down, rioters (not protesters), have destroyed buildings and taken the lives of innocent people. It becomes natural that law-abiding people would become angered over this type of travesty. But we are told that we should not become angry over things like this. The big question is HOW do we not become angry over things like this?

I honestly wish I knew. I have committed Psalm 37:1-5 to memory and I often recite them in my head or even out loud at times. Yet, the peace that should come from that knowledge in those verses seems to evade me. The only thing I know how to do is to continue to recite those verses to myself and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to allow my mind and soul to fully embrace the truth in those verses.

With so much bad news today that appears to be a constant stream from all quarters, it is very difficult for Christians to continue to hold up under the weight of it all, isn’t it? Don’t you feel that way at times? I know I do and I’ll admit it. I wish I could ignore a good deal of what’s happening and simply trust the Lord. In fact, as we’ve seen from Psalm 37, this is exactly what He wants us to do. But the question is how do we enter into that trust that calms us to our very souls in spite of the troubles that spiral seemingly out of control throughout society and often affect our lives because of it? How do we, in spite of the growing evil throughout society, emotionally step away and just continue to trust Him for His outcome?