I’m on our back porch enjoying the breeze of a chilly spring morning. The flowers are blooming, the trees are just beginning to bud and the grass is greening. I’m soaking in the spender of “now”. A few birds visit our feeder suspended above the wooded path to our barn. A steady flow of cascading water from our fountain forms the background rhythm for their melodious songs.
I rest in the goodness of God. When I’m present with Him, the troubles of my life are out of view. Because He’s good, I’m good.
However, when I remember my present difficulties, if I’m not careful, they can suck the good right out of me.
Psalm 73 tells a story of a man who’s dealing with a crisis of belief. Things are not going well and he really doesn’t know what to do.
When the Psalm opens up, Asaph is in a bad way. He doesn’t like his circumstances. He’s come close to stumbling and almost slips. He feels as if he’s wasted his time keeping his heart pure. He feels stricken all day long and chastened every morning.
To add to his unrest, envy has crept in. He sees wicked people who are prideful and arrogant, yet they seem to be doing fine. They’re not in trouble or plagued. They prosper and are even fat, which was considered a good thing back then.
Asaph feels embittered and pierced within, yet he makes a wise choice. He brings his situation honestly before God.
This is the key to what happens next. No matter what our state, no matter how badly we’ve screwed up, no matter how angry we are at God, we should follow Asaph’s example and enter God’s sanctuary.
God is always ready to hear where we are and the honest condition of our hearts. He can handle whatever we want to dish out. The worse thing we can do is shy away from Him because of shame, guilt or disappointment.
As Asaph talks to God, his heart begins to shift. Though his feelings haven’t changed, he sees the end of those who don’t follow God. “Then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.” Psalm 73:17b-18
Then in verse 23, a dramatic turn occurs. Talking to God he says, “Nevertheless, I am continually with You. You have taken hold of my right hand and with Your council will guide me, and afterwards receive me to glory.”
Whatever pit we find ourselves in right this moment. Whatever evidence we see around us that life is not good, we can repeat the above words in sincerity to God, releasing our lives into His care.
Nevertheless, no matter what, God, you are with me. It is You who have taken the initiative to reach out and take my hand and lead me. It is You who guides me along the way until You receive me into Your glory.
How reassuring! This truth can completely change our perspective. It did for Aspah. See what he wrote next:
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And beside you I desire nothing on earth.”[1]
By bringing his concerns to God, even his complaints, God performed a 180 degree shift in Asaph’s heart.
Let’s recognize, as he did, that goodness is not in how our lives are going. Goodness is in God’s nearness. God is always with us and He is always good, no matter what goes on in our lives.
Asaph ended his Psalm with words which have become a truth I build my life around.
“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.” Psalm 73:28a
Challenge: What circumstance threatens your sense of well-being? In other words, what has to be right in your life for you to be okay? It can be very good things, a good marriage, prospering children, successful career, etc. All these “goods” can never replace the fact that we are good because our God is good. Place the Lord of your life above all of things. He is worthy. He is trustworthy. He is good.
[1] Psalm 73:25
