Husband and I felt like we were just coming out into the light after a dark year of watching our daughter’s heart-wrenching battle with cancer.  She’s doing well now in spite of the after-effects of treatment.  But just at the time when our daughter was doing better, we got the news that our close friend had gotten a similar diagnosis.  I felt like I couldn’t watch it one more time.  The months since then have caused me a lot of soul searching.  I’ve been tempted to ask God why he put this heavy trial on our friend when she already has other heavy trials.  So when I came across Psalm 73 twice in two days, I thought I’d better stop and pay attention.

Here is my paraphrase:

I questioned why God allows bad things to happen to good people and good things to bad people.  This made me grieved and bitter.  But I was being foolish and ignorant to think like this and question God.   I must have seemed like a senseless animal to God.  YET, in spite of my doubt and accusations, I am still with you.  I still belong to you.  You are right beside me holding me by the hand and keeping me from slipping down the slippery slope of doubt.  You have a hold on me and are guiding me on the upward path to Heaven in spite of myself.  You are the best thing that has happened to me and the best thing I could ever wish for in the future.  My own physical and emotional strength may fail, but God strengthens me and gives me and my friend all we need.  It is good to be near God, indeed, he is our refuge.  I will brag about him.

Psalm 73

“But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
 
Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
 
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.

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.
 
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
 
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
 I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.               Psalm 73:2-3, 21-28

YET- I’m so thankful for that word!  Even though I stumble, even when I question,  even when I’m bitter,  even when I’m dissatisfied.  Even when I’m feeling sorry for myself.  Even when I wonder if God is fair.  YET, I am always with God.  I still belong to him.  He doesn’t shun or shame me.  He keeps holding my hand and guiding me upward away from the slippery slope of questioning and doubting.  Upward to that place where I will finally experience all the good things I wish for now.  And along the upward way I’ll experience inner prosperity and soul health even if not material prosperity and body health. It truly is good to be near God, to experience him as my refuge from doubts and trials.  I can’t help but tell others about him.

This week while I was thinking about this Psalm, God kindly encouraged me with another passage.  Just this morning Husband read me Isaiah 35 in our daily Bible reading.  I especially love this chapter because when Husband and I were young parents, an old man came to speak at our church.  His eyes twinkled under a thick crop of white hair and after his uplifting message from this passage of Isaiah 35, he sang.  Oh, yes, he sang a chorus and taught it to us – one of the happiest songs I have ever heard!  The melody was catchy and the words put heart in a person.  I can’t sing, but I have often thought of that song in the ensuing decades and have sung it to myself.  This morning  Husband sang it after reading the chapter.  (When I was alone, I tried to sing it, too, but our poor puppy who was asleep on my feet, abruptly got up, walked away, and hid behind Husband’s recliner on the other side of the room!)

Here is part of that Isaiah passage.  Notice that it is written to the tired, the weak, and the fearful. How often this describes me!  This Scripture lights hope in our hearts and puts a spring in our step.  

“With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”  Isaiah 35:3-4

Good news!  God hasn’t forgotten us even though we have troubles.  Then the last verse in this encouraging chapter were the words of the old man’s song.

“And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Think of this shining hope on the horizon!  Everlasting joy!  No more sorrow or sighing!

“They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  Isaiah 35:10

I love the action words and the picture they paint.  Gladness and joy will run after us so fast we can’t get away and sorrow and sighing will run away from us.  Yes, Lord!  Speed that day!  Maranatha!

So the take-aways from these two Scripture passages that shone hope into my week are:

Even in our questioning and doubting God keeps us with him.  He holds us and guides us all along the way to Heaven.  In his nearness we get strength. He is our safe place.

Even when we’re tired, discouraged, and fearful God gives us strength and courage as we look forward to all he’s going to do for us.  There really is a happy-ever-after place where we’ll only experience gladness and joy.  

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