When everything in life seems to come crashing down all at once, we can easily think that we won’t be taken care of. Wonder starts to set in. What if God gave up on me? What if all I did that was good was for nothing? What is my next step? Should I keep walking on a path of righteousness if it doesn’t seem worth it? It’s even worse if we haven’t fully put our full trust in God before something bad happens to us. The good news is, this seemingly impossible situation will most likely be what we need to start a trustworthy relationship with our God.
“As for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped. For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful. For they suffer no pain in their death.” Psalm 73:2-4
At least for me, I see others and think “why does their life seem so much better when they don’t even live for God?” Many would probably wonder if glorifying God was even worth it anymore if everything seems to just fall apart. “That person doesn’t even know Jesus, yet they seem so happy and filled with joy all the time.” “I wish I could live such an easy life and be care free like them.”
Where does their joy come from? Obviously not God, but earthly things. Money, food, work, relationships, etc. "See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow. For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned. For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.” Psalm 73:12-14 It’s easy to want an easy kind of life style, having more time for ourselves, and our happiness. But that isn’t what we are made to do. We, God’s people, are meant to serve others, not ourselves. Glorify God above all else. Worship Him day and night, not anything of this earth. It may not be the easiest life, but God’s promises are true and we have the end to look forward to.
"My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside. I was without reason and did not know better. I was senseless before You. Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.
Psalm 73:21-24
If we remember and trust God’s promises, even in the valleys, we will not be shaken. Our life may not feel like the perfect life we want to live, but we can look forward to forever with the one that holds us up and protects us from earthly danger. Let us always come back to God with an even stronger faith when we stray far away. The last verses in Psalm 73 remind us of God’s faithfulness that we should never forget.
"Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever. For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.” Psalm 73:25-28
