The School of Hard Knocks
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. ~Psalm 73:28
There are some things in life that can only be truly appreciated and well-learned through experience. The school of hard knocks can many times be a difficult but profitable means for us to become wiser. Psalm 73 is the personal testimony of a believer who learned through trying circumstances that you can trust in God.
We see the psalmist and his disadvantage.
The psalmist felt very overwhelmed by the power and might of the enemy. He said he was envious of the foolish when he saw their prosperity. In his eyes, he saw the wicked and the ungodly prospering and godly people like himself going deeper into a hole. He did not feel like he was making progress and that things were getting worse and not better. He felt disadvantaged. We can get this way as well. We feel like God and life are not fair. We complain about our disadvantages and wonder why all of this is happening. Be careful when you feel like you are disadvantaged.
We see the psalmist and his discovery.
He said in v. 17, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” He went to the house of God, and then he discovered that things were not as bad as they appeared! He realized that God was still in control. He realized that God’s power does not diminish during our seasons of setback and disappointment. He realized that God still loved and cared for him. He saw that God was working for him. He felt ashamed that he doubted the Lord. He realized that God did not give up on him, but he gave up on God. Beloved, we must keep our perspective right. We must never lose sight of God’s working in our life behind the scenes. Our most pressing and challenging times are the times when God is working the most on our behalf.
We see the psalmist and his decision.
He made the most crucial decision that one needs to make when things don’t seem to be going our way. He said, "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." Despite feeling drained and weakened by all of the anxiety and worry, he drew strength from the Lord. He decided that he needed to draw near to God. Before this, he was at a distance from God. Tough times demand that we move closer to God. He declared that he put his complete trust in the Lord. He saw how all of the things happening to him were for the purpose of teaching him to have faith in God. God sees our faith in Him is exceedingly small. It is not until God allows overwhelming circumstances and trying moments to push us into a corner that we realize that the best thing for us to do is to have faith in Him. In faith, we learn to let God lead our steps and to solve our problem.
This morning, it is good for each of us to draw near to God and to have complete trust in His power and wisdom for us. He sees farther, knows more, and does a better job of managing our situation than we can. Perhaps the school of hard knocks has you knocked down. Let this experience bring you closer to God in faith, dependence, and love for Him. What may appear bad in the beginning is something that is good in the end.
Have a faith-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 78-79