By Rebecca Feere
Psalm 73:26 is a verse that I often recite to remind myself what is true. It says, “My heart and my flesh may fail, BUT GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (emphasis mine).
Until Jesus returns, we are faced with two realities. The first is the presence of sin in our lives and the world around us. Those who put their faith in Jesus, who have repented of their sin and called on His name in faith, are redeemed and justified by the blood of Christ (Eph 1:7-8; Eph 2:8). However, as long as we are in this broken, sin-cursed world, we still sin and are affected by the sin of others.
Our sin and brokenness point us to the other reality – God! The Bible is God’s Redemption Story. It is the story of God’s continued faithfulness and humanity’s forgetfulness. Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see God continually extending grace and people constantly devising their own plans and chasing after their own “gods.” (aka dreams, goals, or desires). The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming, rescuing and restoring love for sinners like you and me. God doesn’t portray Biblical heroes as perfect but as those who have failed, been forgiven and chosen to surrender to His sovereignty. I feel at home among these broken, bruised and bumbling people who’ve been rescued and redeemed by our loving Saviour!
When my nephew was a toddler, he underwent chemotherapy treatments. As a result, his little bones were fragile. At one point in that journey, he had a broken leg and a broken arm. During his stay in the hospital with two casts, my sister captured a video of him singing Jesus Loves Me. In his precious little voice, he sang with gusto his rendition. He didn’t get all the words right, but what he sang was spot on! Where the song says, “They are weak, and He is strong,” referring to the little ones who belong to Jesus, my nephew sang, “We are weak guys – He is strong!” To this day, this is my favourite rendition of Jesus Loves Me. It is what my heart needed then and what my heart needs every day – to be reminded that, yes, I am weak, and that is not bad or disparaging news! No matter how weak I am or how hopeless my situation feels, my God is always strong and fighting for me! His grace is always enough, and His power is clearly, perfectly seen in my weaknesses (2 Cor 12:9). His power and might are never altered. He is The Most High God! He is the Sovereign God who reigns over all people, nations and circumstances!
Throughout Scripture, we are continually reminded of the reality of living in a broken, sin-cursed world and the reality that our God is with us and for us. As Psalm 73 reminds us, He is the strength of our hearts when our hearts feel emotionally squeezed dry. He is our portion forever. He knows what we need and when we need it.
David echoes this truth in Psalm 23. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Ps 23:4)! No matter how deep or dark the valley is, we know we are never alone. “He’s a fixed reference point in a world of shifting circumstances.” We rest in the truth that nothing happens to us that is not first filtered through the hands of our loving Saviour. He holds us and guides us through all of life’s ups and downs. Verses 23-25 of Psalm 73 speak to this truth.
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.
Two realities – sin and God. We live in hopeful anticipation of the day Jesus, our Sovereign King, returns and makes all things new (Rev 21:5)!
