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In Order. All I Get Is Trouble

April 26, 2017. Psalm 73, 77-78.

 

The Psalmist asked a familiar question that you may have entertained in your thoughts as well; 

 

73:13 Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? 14 All I get out of it is trouble and woe—every day and all day long! 

 

These thoughts come after his observance of the apparent success and ease that the wicked people around him seem to enjoy. How many times have you wondered the same thing? You do the right thing in your job, you choose honesty over deceit and humility over pride. You choose godly character over greedy compromise. And the result for choosing to live pure - the promotion that you wanted and probably deserved was given to someone that was less than honest or genuine? How does that happen? Is it worth striving to live a godly life and follow biblical principles?

These are real feelings and a very real struggle within your own soul that produces that doubt that makes you think; “you know what, it is not worth it…if I’m going to get ahead, I have to play the game like everyone else or be a loser the rest of my life.”

Here is where you must keep reading the rest of the story found in today’s Scripture reading. In chapter 73 and again in chapter 77 a common practice is revealed for dealing with this type of rational and these apparent injustices in life. The commonality is to meditate on, to think about, and to remember what God has already done for you. In the end, those who hate God, those who are stubborn against Him and His will and His plan, they lose. And God remembers those who put their faith and trust in Him and He rewards.

 

73:17 Then one day I went into God’s sanctuary to meditate and thought about the future of these evil men. 

77:11 I recall the many miracles He did for me so long ago. 12 Those wonderful deeds are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them. 

 

Take the time today to look for what God has already done for you. Remember how merciful He has been to you. Reflect on the times that He has delivered you from troubles and woes. Read what God says will happen to the wicked. You do not really want that end result in exchange for a temporary condition, feeling or acquisition.

When you renew your mind and meditate on God’s work in your life and His character then you will have the very real possibility to arrive at the same conclusion as the Psalmist did:

 

77:13 O God, your ways are holy. Where is there any other as mighty as You? 14 You are the God of miracles and wonders! You still demonstrate your awesome power.

 

Keep doing the right thing and watch God demonstrate His awesome power in your life!