Vexation and Anxiety – Old Friends

Proverbs 12:16: “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

The portrayal of the perspective of a fool versus someone who is wise is found throughout Proverbs 12 and other chapters in Proverbs. It is repeated over and over, therefore it calls us to pay attention and take heed regarding the differences between the two.

The word vexation means to be in a state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried. Indignation, exasperation, bad mood, all come into play. It is a type of intense emotion that is toward some imagined or real grievance. Anger often results.

Solomon stresses the importance of a wise person shrugging off an insult and ignoring it. How can we do that?  So a wise man shrugs off (ignores) the intended harmful effects of such speech which was an insult. He can brush it off and not carry it around. Can I do that? Not very easily. Can You?

The Message version of Proverbs 12:16, I need to have on a plague: “Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.”

But what about those situations in life where you find yourself in what is to you a fearful situation? I am not talking about health or financial issues. I am talking about what fearful emotional battles give you anxiety and  cause you to feel indignant and in an outrage? I found myself in that predicament this past week. It hit me by surprise and I have to admit the circumstance left me feeling highly offended, insulted, and oh I had “vexation!” Then I broke into tears in a very public place amidst strangers. My heart was racing and I was heading into a full blown panic attack.

Later, after gaining back my composure, I read Proverbs 12:25: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” There were no words in that instance that could have turned my brain into popping out relaxing molecules into my blood stream. I was weighed down. I prayed that God would give me a “good word” from Him and give me courage. A day later, I remembered the importance of giving praise to God as a sacrifice –  especially when you don’t feel like it which is what a sacrifice requires. I started to read Psalm 145, the chapter that David wrote, that I call David’s Hallelujah chorus. I started to pray Ps. 145 and then my eyes landed on verses 13b-14: “The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” That was it! God gave me His words to remind me that He was with me! Even though this well preplanned agenda had been constructed by my boss, sent out to the few selected sales team members I was a part of, someone deciding to not adhere to the schedule, and deciding to do it his own way, caused my anxiety. The sales person was expelled and banned from the preplanned agenda trip.

I have been stretched this week over and above any possible remaining comfort zone that I could ever have. I had none left. Every day I was put in situations where I didn’t know answers to questions that I was expected to be the authority and expert about. But reading chapters 12-18 in Proverbs became the words from God that helped pull me through these past few days while being on the East coast for work.

Warning: Guard your heart because it controls your mind!

Questions:

What fears or stressful situations do you have currently that cause you anxiety? If you don’t have one now, you will. Give it time!

How has God calmed and cast down your fears in the past? What verse gives you strength in this battle?

Have prudence. Don’t be a fool. Ask yourself –  what is it that only you can do, and if you don’t do it (with God’s help) it won’t get done?

Listen to Zach Williams YouTube song “Fear Is A Liar.”