Psalm 73: verses 15-17 (NIV)
If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
In this Psalm we see the psalmist counsel against speaking out in anger regarding difficult situations that we don’t understand. A hasty word spoken in anger is something that we might regret. He tells us that when he tried to make sense of his circumstances and couldn’t, it troubled him deeply, but when he went to God’s sanctuary, he got the sense of the bigger picture in God’s hands, and learned to leave matters to the Lord.
When we are experiencing difficult times, or we see those who we love doing so, its tempting to lash out and say things we may regret later. There are times when it is right to speak out, but there are also times to be silent. When we look at tragedy and injustice and can’t make sense of it, it troubles us.
But if we take those troubled thoughts to God and leave it with Him, He will bring peace to our hearts. He may not tell us why such things happen, but we have to trust that He can see the end from the beginning.
Dear Lord,
I know that the psalmist wrote about having no concern for things to great for him. Help me to bring the things that I don’t understand, and which trouble me, and leave them at Your feet. Thank You that in Your presence I find peace. Amen.