Worry

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
(Psalms 37:7-9 NLT)

How many times, now that I am older, wish that I would just learn to remain silent? Too many times similar situations would occur in my youth and I would hope for just the opposite, getting frustrated because I would not respond fast enough. Unfortunately I learned to do just that but by the grace of God I am still quiet by nature and in most cases I am who God has made me to be.

I believe at the heart of this matter is worry and Psalms 37:7-9 hits the mark. It is the injustice done to the innocent and the resilience of the arrogant and an unexplainable need to set straight the wrong. In my heart there is a drive to resolve the reasons that derail people within my circles of influence, which I know God uses this drive within me to accomplish His purpose if I can get out of the way by practicing humility and obedience.

If I can get the person to think about what they are doing and the reasons why my soul is satisfied but if they refuse to listen or are in a place where they are unable to listen or they continue to fall to the same bad reasoning it is at that point that I begin to worry and obsess, forgetting that God knows the situation better than I do. This is the very reason so many parents nag their children to do what is right, you see it is not just for the parent’s peace of mind but the parents who care (even if somewhat misguided) understand the consequences that are coming because of the child’s bad decisions. Parents naturally don’t want to see their children go through difficult times but in the end their intervention too often robs the next generation of the understanding God purposed through His law about reaping and sowing.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap.
(Galatians 6:7 MKJV)

Sometimes loving someone means letting them experience things that seem to be bad for them but in every situation not worrying and letting God instruct either by speaking through us, no more and no less or some other means is right and should they fail to listen then they learn by consequences for this is also right. If the other person listens you have won a brother or sister but if they refuse then you must trust God that He loves them even more than you do and as with you He knows what that person needs and His timing is never off. I’ve said it many times before but it’s worth saying again, God is more concerned with our spiritual condition than with our physical comfort. Meaning that if your flesh must endure difficulty there is a lesson your spirit must learn, even if it is as simple as knowing what God has said and trusting He is good in all things. Finally, it is our part to listen and obey not to control the outcome for we do not understand the things of God in whole but in part. Jesus asked (Mat. 6:27) “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” How do you respond?