What do I do when problems and troubles increase and surround me?

What do I do when adversaries and detractors multiply around me?

Fuss? Complain? Fret? Bawl? Seethe? Steam? Stew? Collapse? Explode? Attack? Hide? Plot? Cower?

God just got done showing me (again) what I should do.

“I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill” (Psalm 3:4).

I didn’t much. I forgot a lot. I was too busy doing some of those other things.

But I purpose to do better, believing that…

…He knows.

…He cares.

…He hears.

This morning I considered going back to the New Testament for my reading.

Then I “peeked” at Psalm 2 and was immediately captivated by the first verse:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?”

Right away I thought of another verse having to do with my imaginations and my thoughts:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Nothing vain (that is, empty or idle) there!

So, why do I at times imagine vain things, especially about other people?!

Maybe I don’t love them as I ought:

” Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).

If that’s it (and it likely is), I need God’s help:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love…peace, longsuffering…” (Galatians 5:22).