Heavenly Father, thank you for the honesty, passion, and beauty of your Word. When we don’t know how to voice our feelings, the Scriptures powerfully do so. Today we thank you for Asaph—his pain and his path back to you. We own his story as ours. Everyday we need the gospel, and everyday, you give us fresh grace.
Psalm 73:1 – I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
We can handle most anything easier than getting disconnected from a vital, robust relationship with you, Father. Because when our fellowship gets challenged, stressed and broken, like Asaph, we can start acting like “senseless animals” or tamper-throwing toddlers. We get anxious and critical, whine more than we worship, and complain quicker and despair longer. We start acting like spiritual orphans—as though you’re really not our loving, sovereign, grace-full Father.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Then, as the Holy Spirit applies the gospel to our hearts, yet again, we come back to our senses—to gospel sanity. More importantly, we come back to you. Abba, Father, we do belong to you, and that’s all that really matters. You hold us by your right hand with a grip of grace, even when we try to pull away.
You’re actively guiding us, working in all things for our good and your glory—even when we don’t see it or feel it. And you will bring your work in us to completion, and you will deliver us safely into the new heaven and new earth. What a Father and what a gospel we have—what peace and what hope you give us.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Father, you’re all we want and more than we need. We desire you more than getting our way, having less pain, and gaining more control. You never guaranteed us perfect health or easy circumstances; but you have given us yourself, the righteousness of Jesus, and a perfect future. Hallelujah! We are yours, and you are ours, forever. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
