Courage #5 — Patient Courage

Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Eternal, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Eternal and he will give you the desires of your heart. … Psalm 37:1-4

Some of our anxiety comes from asking the question: “Where is the God of justice?” We see the wicked prosper, and wonder, “What do we profit when we keep his commands?” When it appears that holding stock in Jesus will detract from our joy, we worry. God’s people have asked these questions from the beginning. And his answer has always been, “Look to the end.” We don’t hope for what we see now; we hope in what we do not yet see; so we wait with eager perseverance. We must not evaluate circumstances by God’s current dealings with anyone. He is kind to the wicked for several reasons: His kindness could lead them to repentance; on the other hand, it shows more clearly the wickedness of their sin as they worship their possessions. But they will surely lose it all in the end. Their temporal success is no guarantee of eternal joy. If we set God before us as our source of joy, if we do the good he commands, and if we wait for his perfectly timed justice, we will overcome the anxiety in our hearts.

Gracious God, anxiety in my heart weighs it down, but your good word makes it glad again. Grant me the confidence to wait patiently for your promises in Jesus’ name.