Rector’s Reflections
Tuesday 19th March 2024
Psalm 62: A Psalm of Comfort for Times of Stress
I think all of us experience times of stress and anxiety, and when do, it can be useful to us to pause and reflect on what exactly it is that is causing us so much concern and worry. Why are we so stressed? What are we are worried about?
Sometimes, when we allow ourselves time to reflect, we realise that we’re worrying about something which is in fact neither nor there. We are allowing ourselves to get het up about something which doesn’t really matter.
We tend to put value on a whole range of qualities and experiences. Some of the things we value will be valued by almost everyone- for example, I’m sure most if not all of us value good health. Other things will be peculiar to ourselves, or to a small group of fellow enthusiasts. For example, I value the opportunity to study the Greek text of the New Testament – it gives me enormous pleasure. But I am aware that not everyone would share this particular enthusiasm!
When we are stressed, it can be because we feel that our values are under attack. If we value wealth and social status, we are going be anxious at those times when either of these is under threat. If we did n’t place so much emphasis on our possessions and our status, perhaps we would n’t be so worried about our finances and what other people think of us. Of course, it is only right and proper for us to make sensible provision for the financial well-being of ourselves and our families. But at times our desire for financial security can easily turn into the pursuit of riches for riches’ sake.
All this is nothing new. This is what the author of Psalm 62 has to say, writing all those years ago:
“Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are altogether lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them”.
Human beings are transitory; so too their possessions. So when we are feeling worried or overwhelmed, it can be good to ask ourselves the question: are we worrying about something that really matters? Will we still be worrying about it in say a month or a year’s time?
Most things pass, including the things we are worrying about. It’s all about giving ourselves the time and space we need to put our difficulties in perspective.