Author Bio:
Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee, with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.
Do Not Fret
Times are hard these days. News is seldom good. Horrible things are happening all over the country, all over the world. Knowing his time is short, the evil one is fiercer now than ever before. Gone are even the hint of subtleties—the father of lies has gone all-out in order to steal, kill, and destroy, making no secret of his mission. Illness. Civil unrest and anarchy. Economic hardships. We live in uncertainty, yet of one thing we are certain: we are living in the end times. We don’t know where we are in the overall spectrum or how soon we’ll be able to see every knee finally bow before our triumphant Savior, but we know that things don’t get easier from here. In fact, a reading of Daniel’s prophecies and a quick glimpse of Revelation are enough to let us know we’re in for some rough times.
In the face of everything going on, the phrase “do not fret” sounds trite, if not like an impossibility. How can we not fret? How can we not wring our hands in fear and worry? All over the world right now, believers are either clinging to the cross, seeking comfort in His presence, or they are developing plans to weather the hardship. Hoarding doesn’t sound like such a bad idea these days, does it? It gives us the sense that we’re doing something—anything—to safeguard ourselves and our families from the unknowns to come.
But it is God who tells us, “Do not fret.” He says it not once, but three times in Psalm 37:1-13. “Do not fret because of evildoers.” “Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.” “Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.”
He tells us instead: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Commit your way to the Lord. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
He says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart ...Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”
He promises that “the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
And He says, “Do not fret.”
It’s almost as if He doesn’t know us at all, isn’t it? How many times have we taken something to His throne only to snatch it back? If you know this to be true of yourself, then imagine yourself multiplied by thousands upon thousands of believers the world over who do the exact same thing. God should know by now that His children stink at surrendering our pains, problems, and fears to Him for any length of time. We’re all a bunch of Peters, clamoring to prove our faith by climbing out of the boat and onto the wave-tossed sea, only to take our eyes from the One who can keep us above the tumult.
Here’s why we should take our fears to Him and leave them there: He knows.
“For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more . . . The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him for He sees that his day is coming . . . The Lord knows the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be forever” (Ps. 37:10, 12-13, 18).
He already knows what is to come. He knows what is in store for us and what is in store for the enemy. He has already conquered. He is already victorious.
He’s God. And because He’s God, He is more than able to handle our fears. “The Lord upholds the righteous” (vs 17) and “does not foresake His saints” (vs 28).
Wait on the Lord and keep His way. And don’t fret. “It only causes harm.”
Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed Linda's post! He knows, says it all. Thank you so much for joining us, Linda!
Below are links to connect with Linda:
Website:https://www.lindawyezak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaWYezak/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Yezak/e/B004QX62BI
Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaYezak
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4688488.Linda_W_Yezak
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-w-yezak
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Sally, thank you for the opportunity of sharing with your readers. God bless!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Linda! Great post!
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