Irvin Wasswa, Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Psalm 73:21-29
21When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[b] of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
A few years ago I had the privilege of going on a mission trip to India with a few of my colleagues from seminary. The trip was such a blessing to me as our team had the opportunity to serve, but honestly I probably learned more from those whom we served than they learned from me.
During one of the parts of the trip, our team had the opportunity of leading a pastor’s conference for pastors who lived in the general region where we were located. There were several of the pastors who had to travel several hours just to come and be a part of the event. Many of them were very poor, with some of them facing intense persecution for following Jesus, yet they were there at this conference. The amazing part was these pastors, in spite of the persecution they faced, in spite of what they lacked financially were able to worship. The reason why was because they found God to be enough for them. He was all they needed and in Him they were able to rejoice. Though they faced injustice they saw that God was good and rested in Him. To this day I am thankful for that trip to India and how the Lord used those men to teach me what it looked like to follow Him.
Asaph the Levite in Psalm 73 speaks of a similar reality in his life. He speaks of going through a difficult time where he faced injustice. Life didn’t seem fair to him. Life seemed to be going great for those who were wicked and didn’t care about God, and for the Psalmist though he was walking with God and loved Him, life’s circumstances had him down and out…BUT GOD! Listen God changed his perspective in verse 23.
Don’t we feel like the Psalmist does sometimes? Life just seems so unfair. The “wicked” seem to be prospering and as a Christian you seem to be floundering because of what you are going through. Well I have got news for you: Though life may seem unfair, God is not. He knows what He is doing, and the circumstance you are going though is to grow and mature you. The Psalmist realized that the Lord was enough for him. He may not have what all the world has to offer but he had Jesus and that was good enough for Him. Look at how the Psalmist describes the Lord:
a) God is with us at all times v.23- The Psalmist knew that God wasn’t going to leave nor forsake him (Hebrews 13:5). This promise holds true for us today! God is always with us. 24/7.
b) God is our guide in life v.24- The Spirit of God guides and leads us through life. We do not travel through this life alone. In John 17 Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the One who literally walks alongside of us, guiding us through life.
c) God is our satisfaction v.25-26 – Psalm 107:9. Only God satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry with good things! We were created to be in relationship with God. True satisfaction in life comes when you get saved and choose to live in surrender to Jesus every day. When you see Him as enough for you, then you walk in that true life Jesus talks about in John 10:10
d) God is our refuge v.28- Psalm 9:9. In our times of trouble. When life has us in a deep pit; when we find ourselves in the pit of despair and agony, God is a shelter, a covering, a refuge for us in those times. He is the One we can run to for rest, protection and encouragement in those seasons.
This is our God! This morning may we choose to follow the examples of the psalmist and of those pastors in India: To see that the Lord is enough for us, and in spite of what we are going though, we choose to worship God and declare of His greatness among the earth!
Song of Worship For Today: Christ Is Enough- Hillsong
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, I pray today that I find you to be my portion and my reward! Help me to see that you are enough for me and worthy of worship in every season of life! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Proverbs 21:30
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.