Overcome Weariness in the Trials of Life a 4-Day Devotional by Melanie NorrisExemplo

Submit to the Lord
As we learned in the previous reading, our weariness does not come from our circumstances. Instead, it comes from attempts to handle them on our own. This is not only true when we experience personal or family struggles but also when we experience hardships due to the wicked schemes of others.

When we are wronged, we want to respond with anger and rage. However, having accepted the invitation to take up Jesus’ yoke (Matthew 11:28-30), we must now submit to His way of doing things. Any other way will only bring more frustration and weariness and lead to harm. (James 1:19-20, Psalm 37:8) So how do we overcome weariness in situations where it looks like our enemies are prospering over us?

In the first eight verses of Psalm 37, King David outlines several actions we should take in response to this level of difficulty. More specifically, he tells us:

• Do not be agitated by evildoers
• Do not envy those who do wrong
• Trust in the Lord
• Do what is good
• Dwell in the land and live securely
• Take delight in the Lord
• Commit your way to the Lord
• Trust in Him
• Be silent before the Lord
• Wait expectantly for Him
• Do not be agitated by one who prospers in His way
• Refrain from anger
• Give up your rage

Why? Why is he instructing us NOT to be agitated or take action against evildoers? Because that is God’s job!

In Romans 12:19, the Bible says that vengeance belongs to God; He is the One that will repay evil with His wrath. The remaining verses of Psalm 37 also tell us that God will bless and protect the righteous but laugh at and ultimately destroy the wicked.

So if the Lord’s job is to repay evildoers, our job as His followers is to willingly submit to Him, even if it doesn’t make sense. That means we have to adjust our thoughts and behaviors.

We must trust in the Lord when we want to rely on our own understanding, do good to our enemies when we want to take revenge, dwell where we are when we want to pack up and leave, delight in the Lord when we want to focus on the bad, and stay committed to God’s ways when we want to give up and quit.

When we submit to the Lord in our trials, we position ourselves to reap the benefits of His provision and peace. Because in submitting to the Lord, our hearts become pliable and begin to align with Him. Then, we can wait in confident expectation for Him to act on our behalf. We can confidently expect to experience His protection, receive His salvation, and witness His vengeance over our enemies.

Will you place your delight in the Lord and trust Him to act on your behalf by submitting to His way of handling your opposition?

Ask yourself
- What fears are preventing me from fully submitting to the Lord?
- How can I practically submit to the Lord in the trial I am currently facing?

Respond in Prayer

Father in Heaven, I can’t seem to focus on anything outside of the difficult reality I am facing. It doesn’t feel good, and sometimes, it just seems unfair. But I want to trust You. Please adjust my way of thinking from my natural tendencies, and give me the desire to submit to You. Help me to trust and delight in You as I navigate this situation. I praise You for being my Salvation and my Deliverer. I wait in confident expectation for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.