Psalm 73:2

New International Version (NIV)

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

For Meditation

The old missionary almost lost it. He was alone in a New York hotel, reflecting on his experience at the port that day.

After a life-long missionary endeavor in a remote eastern country bereft of all conveniences and the comfort of Christian fellowship, ill-health necessitated his final return to his native USA. He had the unfortunate experience of returning to New York aboard the ship on which Teddy Roosevelt, the 26^th President, was a passenger. The welcome party of the president was overwhelming. Other parties had also come to welcome their loved ones with joy and eager anticipation. Our veteran missionary friend also scanned the crowded dock for his welcome party. “At least, the church will send a delegation to meet me,” he said. “Forty years is a long time to be away.” But, no one – not a single soul from the denomination he had served so faithfully, was there to give him a warm embrace like Roosevelt and the other passengers.

In the hotel room that night, our old, faithful missionary friend sank into loneliness and despondency. In utter discouragement, he said to himself, “Was it worth it all? Who cares?” His faith almost crashed, until in the pages of the book he had always delighted his soul, he found comfort and prayed to his Savior and Lord to restore his joy and peace in Him.

The seventy-third chapter of the Book of Psalms recounts a similar confession of Asaph. He admits the goodness of God to Israel and “to those who are pure in heart” (1). He then tells of his near slip in faith when he envied the arrogant and wicked that were swimming in prosperity (2-3). “When I tried to understand all this, it was too oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God” (16-17). That is always the remedy for losing faith – the Presence of God!

1. Are you at the point when your faith is almost on the rocks and slipping fast, due to the seemingly unfair conditions of life?
2. Are you thinking, like our old missionary friend and Asaph, that you have faithfully served the Lord, kept your “heart pure,” and washed your “hands in innocence” in vain (13)?
3. Has the year 2016 been unkind to you?
4. Is that why you couldn’t rejoice and thank the Lord this Christmas?
5. Is that why you can’t look forward to 2017 with any shred of optimism?

Hang on, my friend! God is always good! Your 2016 experiences are just but birth pangs. The first cry of the baby will soon announce the arrival of better things from the Lord that will amaze you.

So: May your disappointments, pain, and sorrows melt away, as the unspeakable joy of Jesus breaks out in your heart; and may you behold the face of the ‘baby’ only faith can give birth to – the reward of your perseverance.

Better times are ahead, my friend! Only stay in the Word and drink from the brook of living water.

Shalom