Trust and Do Good

Have you ever been discouraged by where God has you? Whether it’s family, work, ministry, or just the dailyness of life, the tendency to become dissatisfied with God’s will for our current season is something most—if not all—of us struggle with from time to time.

In Psalm 37, David is looking around him at all the evildoers that seem to be prospering, but reminds himself of an important truth:

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” (vv.1-2)

God’s justice doesn’t follow our time schedule. It may seem like others are “getting away” with wrongdoing, but God sees it, and will work His perfect justice at the right time.

But think about the problem David is dealing with here. The temptation is to look at those around us and become discouraged.

Often, one of the biggest things that makes us lose our contentment with the will of God is a focus on other people. But, as David points out, we don’t need to worry or fret about what anyone else is doing.

Perhaps you are like me, and often find yourself asking God the same question as Peter, “Lord, and what shall this man do?” only to receive a like answer: “what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.” (John 21:21-22)

God made you unique from every other person. That means that, although some things will be part of God’s will for all His children (such as salvation and continued growth in your relationship with God), much of God’s will for you will be unique to you. We don’t need to worry about what God’s will for other people is. When we are discontented, it is important to get our eyes off other people, whether they are the “evildoers” mentioned in this psalm, or our fellow believers. God’s will for their lives has nothing to do with our own.

Thankfully, David doesn’t stop there. He goes on to tell us exactly what we need to do:

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (v.3)

When we are discouraged about our current season, we need to get our eyes off those who seem to have it “better” than us, and focus on two very simple (but not at all easy) things:

Trusting in the Lord, and doing good.

It’s that simple.

Discontent thrives on doubt and bitterness. When we complain God’s will for us, we are in essence either doubting God’s goodness, or accusing Him of being wrong. But when we choose to meet those emotions with faith in God’s goodness and wisdom, discontent has no place to settle in.

Instead of focusing on the season we wish we were in, we can look with faith at our current season, purposely doing “good” in whatever way God has for us here and now.

You don’t have to wait till your next season to obey the will of God, or to fulfill His purpose for you. He has a will and a purpose for you this very moment—one that is specifically designed for your good and God’s glory. (Romans 8:28)

Dear Reader, are you in a season that seems too long or too slow? Does the will of God seem tedious to you today? Heed David’s words, choose to trust in the Lord and do good.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6