for realzzz? FOR REAL

Psalm 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but You?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This psalm was written by Asaph, one of David's musicians...which means he was an ordinary guy like you and me (maybe minus the muscial gifting).  And what he talks about here is the struggle that I imagine we all walk through at some point or another.  He's looking around and seeing that all these not so stellar people are prospering while he who has been totally committed to God has suffered and gone without.  

It is the age old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  And I get it.  When my dad had cancer I was bitter.  My thoughts then were literally, "There are bad people in prison living off our money who have done heinous things and my dad who has a good, good man and financial genius who was sought out by foreign countries to help them and speak to them gets taken out early...what.the.h*#?!"  And I get how if you stopped there, you could get lost and lose your way (and your eternity).  But Asaph, didn't stop there.  Gratefully, neither did I.  Asaph reflected on God in His sanctuary and looked at the big picture, the long run.  I had a good father, who raised us in the church so I knew of God and His character.  Bad things just happen.  We live in a crappy world.  WE SINNED.  God didn't.  And He didn't leave us.  

So, I turn the question around, "How could anyone get through the bad stuff without God in their life?"  You don't get to escape it, so get the big picture and know if God is with you, you will get through even when you are at that point where you can't imagine there is escape.  He is right there beside you.  The stuff of the world that gives temporary pleasure to your flesh is just empty.  Drinking doesn't take it away, drugging doesn't take it away...pick your sin/escape of choice.

As I walk through the valleys, I do so with the eternal God by my side.  And when I see wicked prosper, I know it is for a season as is my struggle.  I reflect on the character of God and know there's nothing here on earth I desire more than Him.  Joni Eareckson Tada said, "I would rather be in this wheelchair with God, than walking without Him."  That is the life of one who knows a God who is her strength and her portion.