Psalm 37:1
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."
"Stand Down," the commanding officer gives to the advancing troops.
When military troops hear this order they are to stop all military action. There are times when the troops may not understand why the commanding officer gives the "stand down" orders, but they are to obey and trust the commanding officer.
The verse above is a command from God to "stand down." When someone has attacked you and done wrong, it can be easy to launch an offensive against them to reveal what this person has done. God has a reason for the "stand down" orders, and you find what the reason is and what you are supposed to do during the time when you "stand down."
First, don't dwell on what the evildoer has done to you. If you're not careful, you will be consumed with how it seemingly looks that the evildoer is getting away with their wrong actions. God says, "Fret not...neither be though envious." The word "fret" means to rub away or gnaw at you. It also means to corrode. In other words, if you dwell on how you think the evildoer is getting away with their actions, it will literally cause you to spiritually corrode. It will eat at you and destroy you. Don't be envious or bitter at their actions. You must let it go and move on in life for God promises that their day is coming.
Second, you must trust God that He will take care of the situation. Verse 3 says, "Trust in the LORD, and do good..." If you're not careful, you will think that God is not doing anything about the situation. Trust God! God has never lied to you before, and He won't lie to you now. You have to make sure that you do right. God is not going to work on your timetable; He will only work on His timetable. God's timetable is always on time and is best.
Third, do not take matters into your own hands. Verse 8 says, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath..." If you don't trust God, you will try to help God out and do His work for Him. Christian, that will only make matters worse. You cannot let the works of the evildoer move you to anger and wrath. When they move you to that point, then you will try to take matters into your own hands and it will make the situation worse.
Fourth, spend your time doing right. Several times in this Psalm you see God emphasize to the Christian to just do what they are supposed to do. God says, "Delight thyself in the LORD," "Commit they way unto the LORD," "do good," "Rest in the LORD," and "wait on the LORD." You must continue on doing what you are supposed to do. Keep soul winning and serving the LORD. Keep helping others. Fill your time with doing good so that you don't have time to dwell on the bad.
If you will follow these four steps, God will come through. Verse 15 says, "Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken." If you will continue to do right, God will take the weapons of the evildoer and use them against him. God wants you to let Him take care of them so that your name can be protected. If you take the evildoer out, then you will be perceived as the bad person, but if God does it, then it will be revealed to all who was right.
Friend, "Stand down!" Trust God and don't let the works of evildoers consume you. God will reward them for what they have done, and He will reward you if you do right.