Stay Focused, Still!

November 11, 2025

Scripture

“Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade

like the grass and wither like the green herb.  Trust in the Lord and do good…”  Psalm 37:1-3a

Stay Focused, Still!

Staying focused on the things the Holy Spirit has and is still teaching us requires paying attention.  There are so many distractions and distortions that can creep in to dilute our focus as well as draw us away from what is most important in life, in faith, and in leadership.

When we are younger, there are so many great opportunities in our career, in our family, in our church, and in our recreation that it is easy to let the number of opportunities consume our energy, time, and prayers.  It does not take long until we feel scrambled and overwhelmed.  As we give less than our best to one or more arenas in our life, we often become anxious and sometimes worried.

When we are older, the opportunities may be different but no less in number.  No matter how important we believe those opportunities may be, they can still distract us from the most important things in life, in faith, and in our leadership of family and friends.  The more aware we become of our mortality, the more these distractions may worry us. 

David’s song (Psalm 37:1-2, NRSV) begins with these words; “Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.”

David begins his song with a truth that becomes the foundation for everything that follows; do not fret, do not worry, and do not be anxious!  David knows when we look at how everyone else is doing or how everything is going in the world we have a choice to make.  Our choice is to fret or trust, our choice is to compare ourselves to others or do good for others, or our choice is to be anxious or to be at peace.

David learned when we are tempted to compare ourselves to other people we have a choice to make. 

David learned when we get angry about those who get ahead through evil means we have a choice to make. 

David learned when we are anxious and insecure about the current state of affairs in the world we have a choice to make.

We always have a choice of where we will place our trust, find our hope, and know real love.  In Psalm 37:3 (NRSV) David invites us to make the choice to “…trust in the Lord…” rather than to focus on the things and people that cause us to be fretful, anxious, or worried. 

To trust someone or something is to have a confident and courageous and bold expectation.  Trusting in Jesus means leaning on Jesus with strong courage for today as well as a confident expectation and a bold hope for the future. 

In Hebrews 11:1 we hear; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  This assurance and conviction leads to living with a confident and courageous and bold expectation for today as well as for tomorrow.

This kind of trust helps us to pay attention to the things that are most important in life rather than become distracted by the lesser things.  We have the Holy Spirit to help us stay clear about what is most important.  We have the Bible to help us stay clear about what is most important.  We have other Christ-followers to help us stay clear about what is most important. 

David lost this clarity when he was younger.  The result was moral failure, feelings of distance from the Lord God, and fractured relationships with other people.  David gave his attention to things that were not the most important; it cost him dearly!  For a season, fretting, anxiety, and worry consumed his heart.   

I wonder if the Lord is inviting you and me to make a choice between fretting or trusting, between comparing ourselves to others or doing good for others, and between being anxious or being at peace.  Our confident and courageous and bold hope comes when we remember the promise in Joshua 1:9 (NRSV); “…the Lord is with you wherever you go.” 

Reflect

It is easier to fret and worry and be anxious than it is to trust another person or to trust Jesus.  Where are you choosing to fret more about others than choosing to trust the Lord?  Where are you experiencing more worry than bold hope?  Where are you choosing to be anxious rather than to rest in God’s presence and peace?

Pray

Lord, I admit there are times when I choose to fret or worry or be anxious rather than trust you are with me today.  There are too many times when I choose my own way rather than a confident and courageous way with you that leads me into a bold future with hope and possibility.

Forgive me, Lord, for not always trusting you with my whole heart, mind, and soul.  I too often choose my way rather than your way.  I too often choose the path that requires the least faith in and dependence on you.  Forgive me for too frequently choosing to live a life of fretting rather than a life of faith in you.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Act

Meet with a friend to share where you are most worried (anxious, comparing, distracted, etc.).  Describe how it makes you feel when you are fretting about a person or a situation rather than trusting the Holy Spirit to make a way to resolution.  Ask your friend to meet with you again to ask how you are doing with your commitment to fret less and trust the Lord more.