Standing firm in an insane world
Do you have the strength and courage to believe God when things get tough? Many Christians don’t understand what it means to persevere. Yet your deliverance and destiny are directly connected to your ability to hang on when the going gets tough.
In Psalm 73, we meet a man named Asaph. He was perplexed and confused about God’s goodness and the evil in the world. He was troubled by the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the saints until he entered God’s sanctuary.
And if the truth were told, many of us have walked in Asaph’s shoes at one time or another. Many of us have wondered:
“If God is so good, why does evil flourish while the saints of God seem to suffer?” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Why is there so much suffering and pain in the world?” “Why are so many innocent people losing their lives?”
Maybe in your own life, you have wondered: “Why is this happening to me?” “Why do some people get all the breaks while I get none?” “God, you said, ‘If we abide in you, and your words abide in us, we shall ask what we will, and it shall be done to us’. Lord, I’ve abided by your word, so why is this happening?” “Why the pain?” “Why the disappointment?” “God, why does life seem so unfair?”
Asaph struggled with his questions until he went into the sanctuary, and there, in the sanctuary of God, life began to take on a new perspective.
His feet were stabilized (Psalm 73:2). He said, “My feet had almost slipped.” Although he had been brought up in church, written hymns, played music, and ministered to God and his people, he was about to slip. He was about to step back into what he had been delivered from.
Many of us have had the same experiences - the pressure, strain, and cares of this life. Emotional, financial, health, and mental strain can cause us to lose footing. When you look at the condition of our world and the chaotic times in which we now find ourselves living, these things can cause us to slip.
If we are honest with ourselves, we almost slipped and gave up on God. But we went into the sanctuary, and our feet were stabilized. Maybe you heard a song. Perhaps you listened to a prayer. Maybe the preacher preached a word that gave new meaning and direction to your life. It was in the sanctuary where you gained solid footing.
Psalm 73:18 says, “Surely, you have set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.”
Years ago, they showed 3D movies in theatres. They gave 3D glasses because, in 3D movies, the picture is fuzzy with your normal sight. With your normal eyes, you can’t make out what is going on. But once you put on 3D glasses, things get clearer.
Asaph said when I entered the sanctuary, God gave me some heavenly bifocals and let me see beyond what I saw. God has prepared a slippery place for them (Psalm 73:18). Their car just hadn’t gotten to that spot on the road yet.
God says, “Yes, I know things may be frustrating now. You may not understand everything happening in the world or your life now. But over the long haul, if you keep the faith, you will find yourself moving on down the road while they are flipped over on the side of the road.”
In the sanctuary, Asaph found a different perspective. God gave him a longterm view. He learned that troubles cannot be avoided in this life, and only
God can release you from bondage, not your socalled righteousness. True peace and freedom in an insane world come from God and his Word.
Be encouraged!
Rev. Chestine Sims Jr. of White Hall is the pastor of St. John AME Church at Pine Bluff. The community is invited to join the church for worship in person and on Facebook live at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@pbcommercial.com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry. Writers should have a connection to Southeast Arkansas.