Our perceptions always determine our actions. He thought he was in danger; he felt a desperate need. We all have times like this. Most of us run instinctively to God. We want a God that is there for us in times of personal struggle and pain, yet we normally do not know how to talk to God or feel about God during these times because we blame Him for the situation.
We find here in Psalm 73 a man named Asaph who is struggling with getting a raw deal. But in the end, he finds a God who is there. A God who cares. A God with a plan. We find 4 life lessons that can help us find God when we’ve gotten a raw deal.
I. LESSON 1: POUR YOUR HEART OUT TO GOD!
A. Even godly people struggle when God’s truth and their experience doesn’t match up
1. God’s truth - God is good and in control of everything
2. My experience - Life stinks!
3. v.2 - He believes he is the exception to God’s goodness
B. God is big enough to handle our honesty
1. God can handle us being frustrated with his pan
2. God can handle our confusion and our questions
3. God can handle an honest conversation with you
C. Psalm 145:18 - The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
So many Christians refuse to acknowledge their feelings to God. Could it be that the reason you feel like God isn’t listening when you pray is because you aren’t being honest with God about how you are really feeling? When we bottle up our feelings, they fester inside of us and turn into ulcers, headaches, bitterness, and random outbursts of anger. Be honest. Pour your heart out to God. God will meet you.
II. LESSON 2: CONSIDER YOUR CHOICES CAREFULLY
A. Few things are as difficult to deal with as injustice. When we are tempted to act out, we need to consider the impact our choices will have on us and others around us.
B. We never do anything in isolation. Our actions always affect lots of people around us
C. Vs.12-14: Asaph considers what his actions could do to other people in the faith. If we give up, what will that do to the faith of others?
D. Application:
God’s Word to you is that it is never too late to reconsider and take a better course of action. Life is not fair, but not dealing with what happened to you or breaking off relationships with people/God is not the answer. It’s never too late to reconsider the impact our decisions have had on others. It is never too late to come back to God and get things right.
III. LESSON 3: SEE THE BIG PICTURE
*Perspective is a powerful thing. When we stand out of the moment and see clearly, we can make the right choice.
A. Enter the sanctuary of the Lord to worship
1. Asaph was reminded of how things work out in the end.
2. Life may look good for the wicked now, but No One gets by with violating God’s laws without paying a price. Just because we have not seen the wicked punished doesn’t mean that they will not stand before the throne of God. God has all the time in the world and eternity to set things right
B. Consider how God used raw deals for good in the lives of others
1. Story of Joseph
2. God will use your raw deal to build your character, to change your life, to give you a testimony, and to fulfill a greater purpose. The only way you can have faith to endure events that don’t make sense in the present is to shift your focus off the circumstances and onto the big picture. Only God can use things meant for evil to bring about good.
C. Talk with those who can help you see things from God’s perspective
D. Look at life through the binoculars of God’s goodness and sovereignty
IV. LESSON 4: EMPHASIZE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
A. Instead of telling God how big your problems are, spend more time telling your problems how big your God is
B. He thought he was getting a raw deal, but he eventually realized he was getting a great deal - a personal relationship with the living God
C. At the end of Psalm 73, Asaph is no longer fuming. Heaven is waiting. The Sovereign Lord has everything under control. The wicked will pay.
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