Let Us Not Lose Our Balance
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. Psalm 73:1-3 NLT
In our everyday lives, we commonly face moments when pressures overwhelm us and we witness situations that seem to make no sense. The psalmist openly acknowledges a human weakness many of us have experienced: the temptation to look at the apparent success of those who do wrong and allow our emotions to rob us of peace. However, God’s Word teaches us to redirect our focus so we can stand firm amid difficulties and keep from slipping in our walk.
- God is always good We may be going through many difficulties and sometimes feel overwhelmed by stress, but there is one thing we can be completely certain of: God is good.
- Let us keep our hearts pure God’s goodness becomes evident to those who choose to guard their inner lives, so it is vital that we strive to keep our hearts pure. We must protect our emotions from becoming contaminated by the world’s pessimism.
- The danger of losing our balance Sometimes, amid the anger caused by injustice, it is very easy to lose our balance. In those moments of frustration, we can easily forget everything good, lose our sound judgment, wisdom, patience, and humility, and become susceptible to resentment.
- The reason we stumble The real reason our feet almost slip is that we allow ourselves to envy the arrogant as we watch the wicked prosper. Fixing our eyes on the success of people who do wrong distracts us from our own purpose.
- The answer is found in His sanctuary Trying to understand in our own strength why the wicked prosper is difficult. Clarity comes when we enter God’s sanctuary and seek His presence, allowing us to understand their ultimate end.
Let us not allow the apparent victories of those who do wrong to dictate our mood or make us doubt the Lord’s faithfulness. When our minds become filled with confusion or envy, our best refuge is to seek God’s presence. There we will regain our balance, remember that His plans for us are perfect, and renew our strength to keep walking with integrity.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.Psalm 73:1-3 NLT
Think About It:
- Has there been a recent situation in which anger over an injustice almost caused me to lose my emotional and spiritual balance?
- What attitudes do I need to surrender to God today to keep my heart pure and free from envy when I see others prosper?
- How can I intentionally set aside time this week to enter God’s sanctuary and seek His perspective on my problems?