Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
—Psalm 37:8
I am good at fretting. I know firsthand that fretting leads to ingratitude, unholy worry, acrimony, unspoken accusations. Indeed, fretting leads only to evil: the kind of evil that is chronic and insidious. I thank God that I am quickly delivered of fretting through the grace of forgiveness received and given. I also thank God that I'm not good at finishing what I start... especially when it comes fretting.
I am especially thankful that the recent period of social isolation has not been a time of negativity for me. I could certainly have put my alone time to better use, but even so, I have truly grown closer to God and closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as importantly, I have learned to think about some things in a new way, and accepted God's invitation not to be stuck in the past.
So we Christians may worry more than we should. But fretting really is not an option for the people of God.
I am especially thankful that the recent period of social isolation has not been a time of negativity for me. I could certainly have put my alone time to better use, but even so, I have truly grown closer to God and closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as importantly, I have learned to think about some things in a new way, and accepted God's invitation not to be stuck in the past.
So we Christians may worry more than we should. But fretting really is not an option for the people of God.
Deliver me from the evil of fretting, Lord. Make me grateful, grant me empathy, keep me from worry; in Jesus' Name who taught me to pray: Our Father...
