Changes

During COVID many artists took their craft online, sharing their gifts to encourage and bless. I remember fondly beginning my day with live worship or ending in the same fashion. A song that has stuck with me through all of this, “Something Always Changes”, continues to remind me. My time in the word, singing, meditating turns my heart and mind. In worship at church, our sister church came and led worship. During one song we joined them in singing in Spanish, and I had to think! I knew the melody, I knew the words, but I had to be intentional, bludgeoning the Spanish language in the process…

Today, my Psalm of the day was 73. A psalm of Asaph. He begins declaring that God is GOOD to the pure in heart. A good place to begin. And then, he starts in on what is bothering him. His attention moved to his troubles.

“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

This wording reminded me of a dear Psalm to me.

“If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Love it. The Lord IS our help. We are covered by his lovingkindness and his consolations. Asaph knew a truth about God, he can handle the next verses of Psalm 73. God gave space for the outpouring of grief with the next 11 verses. He saw the evil and he saw the prosperity of the wicked. He saw their comfort as they mocked, tortured, and grieved those pure in heart. He saw their comfort while his people suffered and cried out.

And then there is an abrupt shift. See it.

“Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Everything changed when he stepped into the sanctuary of God. Ponder this with me. Everything seemed hopeless. He was looking all around him. He couldn’t see good. All he saw was the evil around him.

A word for us, yes? No matter how it SEEMS. No matter who leads our country. No matter the size of our bank account. Or shelter. Or….fill in the blanks. Asaph speaks to this as well. The worldly fears will fall away. The evil will shatter, maybe not today, but soon. When we taste the bitterness of envy, we spiral.

When we step into the presence of God who is always with us (make sure you remember that), we can allow all of those burdens to fall to the floor. We can stand on this truth. God is in control.

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”
‭‭Psalm 73:23-28NASB1995‬‬

The spiral stops. The Lord takes our hand. He reminds us that He is with us, He is for us, and He is GOOD. His word will move us. Glory awaits. Notice this! Asaph’s focus on the wicked has changed. He realizes that he is held and the gift is God’s presence. God’s strength changes our perspective. He makes us strong. He gives us what we need. Every time. Wait on the Lord, my friends. Wait on the Lord.

The nearness of my God is my GOOD. He shelters us. Join me today in resting here. Resting in the truth of God’s word. It truly does change everything.