When Life Seems Unfair, Focus on God
Today’s message is a continuation from the series Songs of Hope, focusing on Psalm 73. Psalm 73 is written by Asaph who was the great singer and musician during David and Solomon’s time. Additionally, Asaph is featured prominently in Chronicles. In the beginning verses of Psalm 73, it shows how Asaph struggles why the wicked and the ungodly prospers and how envious is he as he witnesses this. As we walk with God, there will be times where we will experience unfairness and generally things or moments that are bad which will make us think or reflect why God is allowing this to happen when in fact we are following Him. But we must remember that God never promises us a life that is without misery and problems. Most people will even say that when you start following the Lord that problems will be even more greater than before. Even the Bible says that once you follow Jesus Christ, expect trial and persecutions but as you suffer, rejoice because His glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13).
But today’s message is a great reminder that even if we witness the prosperity of the wicked while we continue to suffer, we must put our faith and trust on God and continue with our race. Walking with the Lord and having a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that will brings joy and true contentment in our life. In addition, we must also check our perspective is it’s align with God’s truth. Many times we look at life from our perspectives, and this is dangerous because we will be prone to making judgments and decisions based on circumstances. Today’s message also reminded us that as we spend more time with God, we begin to adjust our perspective. Read and meditate God’s Word. Our concept if right and wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair, what is important and what is not has to be aligned with God’s truth.
Lastly, I love what the Psalmist said in verses 25:26-
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The most precious thing in Heaven is Jesus Himself and nothing compares to Him. This verses reminds us that whatever we have in this world, our name, our prestige, our money, the material things that we accumulate means nothing if we are not following the Lord and if we don’t focus on what is eternal. Everything in this world is temporary — nothing really lasts. Desiring to be with God in eternity must be our focus and our goal. This verse gives me great joy because this really put things into perspective which I need to prioritize or which are not. Because at the end of our life, the only one we have is Jesus Christ.
Psalm 73
God Is My Strength and Portion Forever
A Psalm of Asaph
1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find no fault in them.[a]
11 And they say, “How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[b] of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Discussion Questions
1. What experiences have you encountered that you felt were unfair? How did you process it?
2. Why is it not healthy to compare yourself with others and focus on circumstances?
3. Why is focusing on God so important when you are discouraged? What kind of perspective should you have?
4. How will you apply this message in your life?
1. What experiences have you encountered that you felt were unfair? How did you process it?
I guess it is more of the injustices that I encountered before. I feel like even if I do good and just follow what is morally correct, sometimes I feel unfair because those who are tricking the system prospers more and achieve happiness (financial, relationships, etc) while here I am, still on where I am and I feel I am not moving forward. You can compare this with the student who studied for an exam and failed, while his/her classmates who cheated passed and even got the top scores/marks. All my life, I can honestly say, even when I was still not a believer of Jesus Christ, that I always tries my very best to be fair and not cheat the system. Sadly that is not case. Even until now, as you look at the bureaucracy, blatant cheating and corruption happens.
But how do we process this? We all know that this is a fallen world. We cannot really expect that injustices or cheating the system will stop in our timeline. But as I continue to reflect and meditate God’s Word, and really walk with Him, I realized that I have peace which only comes from the Him. Also, I’ve forgiven those who’ve brought me pain and misery and just really pray and surrender it all to Jesus Christ. I am trusting the Lord more as I still continue to witness and experience things that are unfair. I know our God is a sovereign God and He is always in control.
2. Why is it not healthy to compare yourself with others and focus on circumstances?
It is not healthy, actually it is destructive because the ending might be sinning against the Lord. We all are running different races, different priorities, and different goals. Other people’s race is different from yours. You may know a person is ungodly and he is prospering because of his or her wicked ways. But how exactly are you going to respond to this? The Psalmist Asaph, in verses 21 to 22 of Chapter 73, he says his heart grieved and his spirit embittered. I was senseless and ignorant, I was a brute beast before you. We must act according to God’s perspective. We must pray for these people to know the Lord, and for them to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. We also pray to God to change our heart and not let us feel envious to their ways.
3. Why is focusing on God so important when you are discouraged? What kind of perspective should you have?
Focusing on God realigns our priorities and goals in life when we suddenly feel discouraged or down based on what’s happening. We will have the right perspective on how to act on our situations because we know that God will guides us and protects us. God is good and He wants the best for us.
4. How will you apply this message in your life?
Despite knowing that injustices, unfair treatment and bad things will still happen, that even as we witness ungodly people prosper more during the times of great struggles and distress, I will always focus on the Lord, pray for these people that they will know Jesus Christ. That things in this world is temporary, but relationship with Jesus Christ is forever. And this brings great assurance and joy, that no matter what is happening, God is always in control. Choose God’s perspective, always. Meditate on His Word.
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