FRET NOT — DON’T WEAR YOURSELF OUT

FRET NOT — DON’T WEAR YOURSELF OUT

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.” — Psalm 37:1 (KJV)

There is a little phrase in Psalm 37 that has been upon my heart: “Fret not.”

Those are only two words, but what a message they contain.

To fret is to worry, become anxious, and wear ourselves down over circumstances we cannot change. Yet God does not tell His children to carry every burden themselves. He calls us to bring our burdens to Him.

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.” — Psalm 55:22

Many years ago, when I was a young tradesman, I did not have a car. I would travel from job to job carrying a heavy bag of tools upon my back.

Whenever I worked with another tradesman who had a car, what a relief it was to put that heavy tool bag into the boot! The burden was no longer on my back.

But imagine putting the tools safely into the boot of the car, then taking them back out and climbing into the passenger seat with the heavy bag still strapped to my back!

It would make no sense.

Yet spiritually, we can do exactly that.

We come before God in prayer and say, “Lord, here is my burden. I cannot carry it any longer.”

We place it before Him.

Then five minutes later, we pick it back up again!

We begin worrying about it, thinking about it, trying to solve it ourselves and wondering what is going to happen tomorrow.

God is saying:

Leave it with Me.

If you have committed the matter into God’s hands, allow Him to deal with it in His time and according to His wisdom.

GOD KNOWS EVERY TEAR

God is never too busy for His children. He sees the tears nobody else sees. He knows the burdens we may never tell another person about.

David wrote:

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” — Psalm 56:8

Think about that.

The God who created the heavens and the earth notices the tears of His children.

God knows.
God loves.
God cares.

LEAVE IT IN HIS HANDS

I remember going to the supermarket with my wife some years ago. At that time we had to travel by bus.

When we reached the checkout, I decided to use one of the self-service tills. Everything was going well until I reached for my wallet.

My wife, trying to help me, pressed an option on the screen.

Suddenly I did not know where I was!

I pressed the back button and started again. Then it happened another time. And then a third time!

Eventually I had to say, in effect:

“Just leave it with me. I’ll sort it out.”

Later I thought about those words.

Could God sometimes be saying the same thing to us?

“My child, leave it with Me. I will sort it out.”

We pray about something, but then we continue pressing buttons, trying doors, worrying, interfering and attempting to make everything happen ourselves.

There comes a time when faith simply has to leave the matter in God’s hands.

DAVID’S SIX WORDS FOR A WORRIED HEART

Psalm 37 gives us a wonderful pattern for dealing with worry:

TRUST — DELIGHT — COMMIT — REST — CEASE — WAIT.

Trust:
“Trust in the LORD, and do good.” — Psalm 37:3

When you cannot see the answer, trust the One who can.

Delight:
“Delight thyself also in the LORD.” — Psalm 37:4

Do not allow the problem to become greater in your thoughts than your God.

Commit:
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” — Psalm 37:5

Put your future into God’s hands.

Rest:
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7

Faith does not always mean doing something. Sometimes faith means waiting.

Cease:
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” — Psalm 37:8

Do not allow another person’s wrongdoing to rob you of your peace with God.

Wait:
“Wait on the LORD, and keep his way.” — Psalm 37:34

God’s timing may not be our timing, but His timing is never late.

David knew what it was to go from one trouble into another. He knew betrayal, danger, enemies, disappointment and fear. Yet through it all, he learned that God could be trusted.

Perhaps today you are carrying a burden that has become too heavy.

You have prayed about it.

You have cried about it.

You have thought about it day and night.

Then hear the message of Psalm 37:

FRET NOT.

Do not wear yourself out carrying tomorrow’s burden today.

Bring it to the Lord.

Commit it into His hands.

And when you have left it there — do not keep picking it back up.

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7

Whatever you are facing today, remember these three simple truths:

GOD KNOWS.

GOD LOVES.

GOD CARES.

Written by George
For Georges Bible Ministries

For Georges Web Ministries

10th September 2026

God is a good God

God Knows , God Loves. God cares