Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and abandon wrath; do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be eliminated, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:7-9)
In competitive swimming you have to give your all to finish the race without watching how your competition compares. With such a fast-paced sport and one that requires so much focus and energy, it will slow you down substantially to keep an eye on the lanes beside you. In any competition, it is ill advised to get preoccupied with how your opponent is doing because you quickly forget your own direction. In sports, this feels like a clear principle that can help us compete well, but in life this is not so clear because we often measure how we are doing based on others. In this passage, we are called to rest in God, looking to Him for our source of strength and direction. Resting in Him requires focus and endurance. The objective of patience is to continue in the same direction steadily and consistently, yet our tendency to compare to others is in opposition to this goal.
Life can be hard and the things other people receive or achieve do not make sense sometimes. Regardless, like the athlete locked in on the finish line, we can also be focused on God, who not only promises the best outcome in the end, but also His presence with us at every step in the process.
- What are some things you have been distracted by recently? How has comparing yourself to others distracted you from following Christ’s direction for your life?
- What does it look like to rest in the Lord? How is that different from how you live right now?
- Pray and ask God to help you focus on His direction instead of being distracted by others.
