Until…
You might be thinking okay, so God is in control and all things exist for God’s glory, but really, how does God get glory out of suffering or disasters or trials or calamity? It can be easy to see how God gets glory from a story of blessing and victory. Even God’s glory in the beauty of creation, a magnificent piece of art, or music makes sense. But suffering? How does God get glory out of that? Doesn’t that seem cruel and even sadistic?
When we think about this mystery, we are asking a fairly logical question: Why do bad things happen to good people? And at the same time, we are asking the question: Why do good things happen to bad people? Even the Psalmist wrestled through this confusion. He laments:
Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 73:12-17
Asaph, the writer, looked around and saw his own suffering compared to the prosperity of the wicked. He didn’t understand. As He tried to reconcile this reality, the puzzle seemed to just grow more complex and confusing. I love the word “until.” On his own he tried to make sense of his circumstances, but failed…until he went to God. Then he discerned. He realized the eternal judgment that is waiting for the wicked. He celebrates in his circumstance that God holds his right hand (vs. 23), guides him (vs. 24), promises to receive him into glory (vs. 25), strengthens his heart (vs. 26), and provides refuge in time of trouble (vs. 28).
Like Asaph, we can try to understand this reality on our own and grow exhausted and weary. Or we can have that “until” moment where we go to God and see Truth #3 – God’s ways are not our ways.
Prayer of confession and belief –
God, like a deer pants for water, my soul is thirsty for you. All that has been created is for your glory. I rejoice to know that I have been made for a high and holy purpose. I am thrilled to know that you are most glorified when I am most satisfied in you. And when I am satisfied in you, I am at my most joyous. Your glory and my joy are inseparable. First your glory, then my joy. Thank you Lord. Amen.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 42:1-2
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 63:1-2
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
2 Chronicles 20:12
O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”