American Christians sometimes believe that only here do we see the rich get richer. We watch in horror as evil is on the rise, and those who manifest it seem to able to skate by with what appears to be little or no consequences. It doesn’t take long to see all the negative pieces of our world. It is daily put before us, as a sort of overwhelming reminder of how broken we are.
This problem is not new. King Solomon said it this way: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) It turns out he was right. History and human interactions repeat themselves.
While our country seems divided, I believe we are unified in our agreement that it is. Evil seems out of control. Countless acts of violence occur regularly, and we wonder where is God? Why is He not acting? If God is capable of putting to an end those who are evil, why does He seem to be doing nothing?
I do not claim to have all the answers. I don’t. But one thing I do know – not believe – but KNOW: God is still God. He is still in control. He sees. He knows. He is not silent. God may appear to be without a plan, but God’s plan preceded our existence. His plan will not be thwarted.
And so, as a believer, I find my heart matching that of the psalmist Asaph. He is the one who wrote the 73rd Psalm. He begins his writing with a raw transparency. It’s as if he is willing to splay his heart and struggles out before the LORD. He is real about his struggles, his inability to understand why the wicked seem to prosper and the godly seem defeated. It’s so relatable.
But somewhere along the way, his writing – along with his focus changes. In verses 22-23, Asaph’s focus moves from looking at the wicked to looking inside himself. He begins to do some self-assessing and finds that he too is falling short of God’s desire for him. His heart is in the wrong. “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered. I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.” Wow. Talk about being vulnerable before a holy God.
But listen, friend, it isn’t until Asaph gets his focus right, that God can reveal to him the truth of his circumstances. Once he acknowledges his thoughts are also incorrect, God gives him words of encouragement, and a new attitude and perspective with which to face life. “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health my fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” (v. 23-26)
Beautiful.
Where is your focus? Does it need adjusting? Is it time to do some self-assessing? Is it time to do some inner house cleaning? If we are willing to follow Asaph’s example, I absolutely believe we will also find that our hearts will be transformed like his was. It really isn’t until we get our hearts right that we stop contributing to the evil that surrounds us. We have a choice.
It’s time to get real with our Heavenly Father and allow Him to repair and reshape our focus.
Blessings!