When I lose peace, Psalm 73 helps…
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. (Psalm 73:21-22)
I find I can’t settle my heart, let alone pray. I fight imaginary battles over what grieved and embittered me. Recognising this isn’t enough. I need to come to a place of surrender.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. (Psalm 73:23)
The realisation that God is with me and willing to hold me helps. This is my foothold out of the swamp.
If I allow him to hold my right hand, I surrender my drive to act. It helps to recognise I am in a bad place and more likely to provoke harm than good.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory. (Psalm 73:24)
Only after I have surrendered can I be still enough to listen to his counsel, to be guided by him down a path that heads to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)
If I believe that there is nothing besides him, then this road is much easier because trust needs to be wholehearted.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:26)
Through this rocky road his strength and rescue will be proven and I will discover the Lord’s portion that lasts forever!