7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. – Psalm 37:7-8

It’s hard to watch others prosper when we work at least as hard as they do, if not harder, and we’re left in the dust, scraping by on $0.67 a day from book sales, and exhausted with dreaming dreams.It’s hard to watch others prosper while we languish, even if they do good with the profits they make.

It’s hard to watch others prosper when we drum up everything we have to give and it makes the widow with her two pennies look rich.

It’s hard, but it’s one of the furnaces God uses to refine our character. Can we still give when no one wants what we have left? Can we still give when we make mistakes in our giving all the time? Maybe that’s just me. I hope that doesn’t happen to anyone else, because it’s not a fun way to live!

God wants us to set aside worry. Don’t fret!

I feel like an utter failure this week. Not only did I get another rejection from a literary agent, I cried about it, like, ugly sobs, right in front of my kids. The pressure of financial burdens, the worry of not being able to contribute, the stress of not being able to provide, this came crashing down on me. I poured the last decade into this.

God’s answer to all this?

Don’t worry. Don’t fret. Delight in me and I will make sure you’re covered. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

The verse before this one guides me when I just want to give up and sink into the depression that beckons. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. – Psalm 37:3

Even if it seems like all I do is make mistakes, all I do is fail, all I’m capable of is dust and ashes, God reminds me that through trusting in Him, I am able to do good. I can be faithful in the little things.

Failure only really happens when we quit. Everything else is a setback.

If you feel like everyone except you is prospering, everyone except you has something to give, everyone except you is admired and desired, don’t forget that the King of the Universe still has a plan for you! Not only that, He jealously longs for you! (See James 4:5)

I don’t know what this plan is, but I do know that if you’re in His hands, you can rest and trust that He wants the best for you! That best isn’t a long stream of disappointments. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

This current failure, this current setback, He will work this together for good!

God bless you!

Precarious Yates

About the Author:

Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their big dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.

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