Do not fret. It’s our default but God tells us how to do what He requires in 37:1-8.

• Trust in the LORD.
• Do good (do the next right thing).
• Live within God’s borders (don’t be pushing to stray beyond the hedge He has around your life).
• Delight in Him knowing He is the source of all that will delight and satisfy (He Himself, all that is in Him, and all that He grants. Ask Him for heart desires that are like His.)
• Commit yourself to Him.
• Trust Him to fulfill every promise in His perfect time, even the ones that are so staggeringly big we can barely take them in.
• Be still (sink into, stop struggling, quiet your heart and mind).
• And wait patiently (not passive but active unconditional obedience and prevailing prayer).

And here’s the powerful motivation. Fretting leads only to evil.

From The Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller, ^{pages 72-73}

“Neither repress nor vent your frustrations but redirect them to God. Learn to find your heart’s deepest desires in who He is and what He has done (delight).

“Vs 11 – The meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

“Who are the meek? The humble – who don’t second-guess God’s timing (vs 7). And the dependent (including leaving vindication and vengeance to God (vs 9).”

Humility is such a big subject and not our natural bent, so I find it helpful to see this kind of specific description – don’t second guess God’s timing and don’t forget you’re dependent – totally dependent – most definitely not our natural bent.

When you’re aging and living with the aging the picture of dependence is in front of your face all the time. And though we resist and would never think up a plan like this – it is the place of blessing. It is the place of not fighting with God.

And then in a Robert Morris sermon, he defined pride as trusting in our own goodness, wisdom, and power instead of God’s wisdom, goodness, and power. This is a great working definition. It’s easy enough to remember and it is broadly inclusive. I recognized some years ago that Satan takes every opportunity to plant doubt about God’s wisdom, goodness, and power in our minds. He’s done it since Eden. He does it still. And I think it’s one or more of those doubts that leads to every sin. This definition gets us right to the heart of the matter. We trust Him and His goodness, wisdom, and power, or we trust our own. The bad news – there is no less offensive gray middle ground. The good news – every time the bottom line becomes this clear, I do know that when I’m all I’ve got, it’s terrifying. I’m not enough! There is such great relief in not trying to be!! Of course, I’ve lost track of how often I’ve come to that place. I’m just grateful He keeps getting me there!! He is good. He is wise. He is powerful. And He is for us not against us. He is always with us. HE is amazing!!!