Finding Hope in a Challenging Seasonنموونە

Do you ever look at the world and feel like evil is winning?

Have you ever wondered why you happen to be alive at the very moment in history when Christianity seems to be in decline, at least in the West?

It’s easy to feel discouraged as a Christian today. Not just because of what’s happening in the world, but because of what’s happening in the church: leadership failures; people “deconstructing” their faith; our culture moving away from Christianity; and our churches becoming even more divided.

In the first half of Psalm 73, from verses 1-14, the Psalmist laments that unbelievers appear to be winning, while he goes from one affliction to another. It’s amazing how accurately the words in verses 4-12 describe our world today, where proud, callous and violent “leaders” promise the world (v9) and so the people run to them (v10).

In verse 16, the Psalmist describes being “troubled deeply” when he tries to make sense of it. I wonder if you can relate to this feeling? Perhaps you are feeling it now. The world isn’t as simple as we want it to be. We want "good guys” to be rewarded and “bad guys” to be punished, but it doesn’t always happen that way.

Thankfully, the psalm doesn’t end there. The Psalmist enters “the sanctuary of God” (v17) and his whole perspective is transformed. He sees the big picture. He sees human history from God’s perspective, and this reminds him of two important realities.

Firstly, the wicked – all those who oppose God and his people – will be destroyed. It will happen, no matter how things seem right now. God has promised it.

Secondly, and most importantly, God is with him. Verses 23 to 27 contain some of the most beautiful words in the whole Bible! Read them, meditate on them, and pray them for yourself today:

"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.”

[This Bible Reading Plan is based on Episode 1 of Embracing the Fall, a six-part video discipleship series available on RightNow Media and at https://inspiringfaith.au . There is a Study Guide available if you would like to engage with this topic further with your small group.]