The holiday season, for all its joy and warmth, can often become a whirlwind of expectations, to-do lists, and self-imposed pressure. We meticulously plan gatherings, gifts, and activities, creating an agenda that can sometimes overshadow the true spirit of the season. But what happens when life shatters that agenda?
Just last week, while out on my weekly walk with friends, I became light-headed and passed out. An unexpected visit to the emergency room quickly led to a hospital stay and a serious diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. While a subsequent coronary catheter procedure indicated no arterial blockages, the reality of managing this serious heart condition with medication has made life suddenly feel very fragile. In the face of this unexpected, life-altering event, the ancient wisdom of Psalm 37 has made a profound impact on me this holiday season, speaking to my need for peace and surrender much more than it has before.
This experience led me to write this blog post.
King David, in this beautiful psalm, reminds us to "fret not." This isn't a call to inaction, but an invitation to relinquish anxiety and control. During the holidays, our agendas can easily become idols, demanding our complete attention and energy. Psalm 37 gently redirects us, encouraging us to lean into God's sovereignty and His perfect timing. As we continuously seek to maintain a strong foundation in faith and align our priorities with God's will, this scripture becomes an anchor, reminding us that even in serious situations, we are called to trust and rest.
Let's explore ten ways the truth of Psalm 37 can help us give our holiday agendas—and our very lives—to God.
1. Fret Not, Plan Less: The psalm begins with "Fret not yourself because of evildoers." This powerful command extends to our own holiday planning, and especially to the anxieties that accompany a serious health diagnosis. When we fret over every detail, we're essentially trying to control outcomes that are often beyond us. Instead, trust that God's plan is superior.
2. Trust in the Lord, Do Good: Verse 3 encourages us to "Trust in the Lord, and do good." Our holiday actions should flow from a place of trust in God, not from a desire to impress or fulfill an exhaustive personal agenda. Focus on genuine kindness and generosity.
3. Delight in Him, Not the Details: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (v. 4). When our delight is in God, our desires align with His. This means our holiday "desires"—peace, joy, connection—will be met in His way, not necessarily through our own meticulously crafted schedule.
4. Commit Your Way to the Lord: This is perhaps the most direct call to surrender. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act" (v. 5). Lay down your holiday itinerary and your anxieties before God. Ask Him to guide your steps and illuminate what truly matters.
Proverbs 16:3 KJV Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established.
5. Be Still and Wait Patiently: The holiday season is notoriously fast-paced, but health crises force us to stop. Psalm 37:7 urges, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." This counter-cultural advice reminds us to slow down, listen, and allow God to unfold His purposes, rather than rushing headlong through our own.
6. Refrain from Anger and Stress: "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil" (v. 8). Holiday stress and the frustration of managing illness can quickly lead to irritability and anger. By surrendering our agendas, we reduce the pressure that often triggers these negative emotions, allowing for more grace and patience.
7. The Meek Shall Inherit Peace: Verse 11 promises, "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace." Meekness isn't weakness; it's a humble submission to God's will. When we surrender our holiday agendas, we open ourselves to the abundant peace that only He can provide, a peace that surpasses understanding.
Philippians 4:7 KJV And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8. God Establishes Our Steps: "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way" (v. 23). This provides immense comfort. When our delight is in God, He takes responsibility for our direction, even through times of illness and uncertainty. Our holiday plans become His plans, and we can trust that He will lead us
.
9. God Upholds the Righteous: Verses 24-25 reassure us, "t I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken." Even when our holiday plans go awry, or we feel overwhelmed by medical news, God promises to uphold us. We are not forsaken.
10. Take Refuge in Him for Salvation: The psalm concludes with a powerful reminder: "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their strength in time of trouble... because they take refuge in him" (v. 39-40). When the holiday season feels like a "time of trouble" or overwhelming obligation, our refuge is in God. Giving Him our agenda means finding safety and peace in His loving care.
Just last week, while out on my weekly walk with friends, I became light-headed and passed out. An unexpected visit to the emergency room quickly led to a hospital stay and a serious diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. While a subsequent coronary catheter procedure indicated no arterial blockages, the reality of managing this serious heart condition with medication has made life suddenly feel very fragile. In the face of this unexpected, life-altering event, the ancient wisdom of Psalm 37 has made a profound impact on me this holiday season, speaking to my need for peace and surrender much more than it has before.
This experience led me to write this blog post.
King David, in this beautiful psalm, reminds us to "fret not." This isn't a call to inaction, but an invitation to relinquish anxiety and control. During the holidays, our agendas can easily become idols, demanding our complete attention and energy. Psalm 37 gently redirects us, encouraging us to lean into God's sovereignty and His perfect timing. As we continuously seek to maintain a strong foundation in faith and align our priorities with God's will, this scripture becomes an anchor, reminding us that even in serious situations, we are called to trust and rest.
Let's explore ten ways the truth of Psalm 37 can help us give our holiday agendas—and our very lives—to God.
1. Fret Not, Plan Less: The psalm begins with "Fret not yourself because of evildoers." This powerful command extends to our own holiday planning, and especially to the anxieties that accompany a serious health diagnosis. When we fret over every detail, we're essentially trying to control outcomes that are often beyond us. Instead, trust that God's plan is superior.
2. Trust in the Lord, Do Good: Verse 3 encourages us to "Trust in the Lord, and do good." Our holiday actions should flow from a place of trust in God, not from a desire to impress or fulfill an exhaustive personal agenda. Focus on genuine kindness and generosity.
3. Delight in Him, Not the Details: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (v. 4). When our delight is in God, our desires align with His. This means our holiday "desires"—peace, joy, connection—will be met in His way, not necessarily through our own meticulously crafted schedule.
4. Commit Your Way to the Lord: This is perhaps the most direct call to surrender. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act" (v. 5). Lay down your holiday itinerary and your anxieties before God. Ask Him to guide your steps and illuminate what truly matters.
Proverbs 16:3 KJV Commit thy works unto the LORD, And thy thoughts shall be established.
5. Be Still and Wait Patiently: The holiday season is notoriously fast-paced, but health crises force us to stop. Psalm 37:7 urges, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." This counter-cultural advice reminds us to slow down, listen, and allow God to unfold His purposes, rather than rushing headlong through our own.
6. Refrain from Anger and Stress: "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil" (v. 8). Holiday stress and the frustration of managing illness can quickly lead to irritability and anger. By surrendering our agendas, we reduce the pressure that often triggers these negative emotions, allowing for more grace and patience.
7. The Meek Shall Inherit Peace: Verse 11 promises, "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace." Meekness isn't weakness; it's a humble submission to God's will. When we surrender our holiday agendas, we open ourselves to the abundant peace that only He can provide, a peace that surpasses understanding.
Philippians 4:7 KJV And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8. God Establishes Our Steps: "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way" (v. 23). This provides immense comfort. When our delight is in God, He takes responsibility for our direction, even through times of illness and uncertainty. Our holiday plans become His plans, and we can trust that He will lead us
.
9. God Upholds the Righteous: Verses 24-25 reassure us, "t I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken." Even when our holiday plans go awry, or we feel overwhelmed by medical news, God promises to uphold us. We are not forsaken.
10. Take Refuge in Him for Salvation: The psalm concludes with a powerful reminder: "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their strength in time of trouble... because they take refuge in him" (v. 39-40). When the holiday season feels like a "time of trouble" or overwhelming obligation, our refuge is in God. Giving Him our agenda means finding safety and peace in His loving care.
A Foundation for Trust
Psalm 37:1-40 KJV [1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. [3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. [4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. [5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in him; And he shall bring it to pass. [6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday. [7] Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. [8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. [9] For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. [10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. [11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. [12] The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. [13] The Lord shall laugh at him: For he seeth that his day is coming. [14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. [15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. [16] A little that a righteous man hath is better Than the riches of many wicked. [17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the LORD upholdeth the righteous. [18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: And their inheritance shall be for ever. [19] They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. [20] But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. [21] The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. [22] For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. [23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. [24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. [25] I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. [26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. [27] Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. [28] For the LORD loveth judgment, And forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. [29] The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever. [30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, And his tongue talketh of judgment. [31] The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. [32] The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him. [33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. [34] Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. [35] I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green bay tree. [36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. [37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace. [38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off. [39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble. [40] And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Psalm 37:1-40 KJV [1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. [3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. [4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. [5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in him; And he shall bring it to pass. [6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday. [7] Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. [8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. [9] For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. [10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. [11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. [12] The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. [13] The Lord shall laugh at him: For he seeth that his day is coming. [14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. [15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. [16] A little that a righteous man hath is better Than the riches of many wicked. [17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the LORD upholdeth the righteous. [18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: And their inheritance shall be for ever. [19] They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. [20] But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. [21] The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. [22] For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. [23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. [24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. [25] I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. [26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. [27] Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. [28] For the LORD loveth judgment, And forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. [29] The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever. [30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, And his tongue talketh of judgment. [31] The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. [32] The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him. [33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. [34] Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. [35] I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green bay tree. [36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. [37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace. [38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off. [39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble. [40] And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
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