13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken
and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed the generation of your children. (Psalm 73:13-15 ESV)
As we move on with Psalm 73 we see that, possibly like us in our Christian walk at some point, the Psalmist wonders if it is all simply in vain. We all come to a point where we begin to doubt. We see the turmoil in the world around us, the seemingly wicked people who have everything, we feel like our prayers go unanswered. No matter the cause, we can come to doubt our faith.
There have been times where, like the Palmist, I have wondered if these words I write are in vain? Do they really reach those in need. My many years of various ministry, have those been in vain? The fact is we simply go through a period of questioning.
I think anyone who commits to a long term system questions it at some point. Who of us has not questioned our career choice or other long term commitments. But we will find as we move through this Psalm that God can accept those questions and still love us and help us understand His path.
Reflect on: The times you have questioned and how you worked through those times. Maybe you question now. Ask God to speak to you and show you the way.
