Almost everyone loves to hear stories of God “showing up.” We feel trapped by circumstances, we pray in desperation, and a providential answer arrives just in time. We know it’s God, and it’s easy to praise Him—for a while.
But so much of life is lived in the “idk” (“I don’t know”)—those in-between times when our problems proliferate and threaten to obscure God’s goodness. We wonder where He is.
A cluster of psalms attributed to Asaph (Psalms 73:1–83:18) deal with life in the “idk.” Again and again, the psalmist revealed the raw honesty of his heart as he saw his people violated and tyrants prospering.
In Psalm 77:1-20 he wrote, “All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted” (Psalm 77:2). That anguish soon slipped into resignation: “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me” (Psalm 77:10).
“But then . . .” (Psalm 77:11).
For those who trust in God, every moment living in the “idk” has a corresponding “but then.” Asaph continued, “But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago” (Psalm 77:11). He then celebrated the “God of great wonders” who displays “awesome power among the nations” (Psalm 77:14). The conclusion is one of triumphant memories, not despair over the present.
Despite the fear that permeates many of Asaph’s psalms, the focus is on God, His past goodness, and His promise to be our God. We anticipate a day when justice will reign. Then we will look back and see how God was near us every step of the way.
The times when we don’t know what to do are the times to let God build our faith. When we don’t have anywhere else to go, He has us exactly where He wants us.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 25:19-34
More:
Read through a couple of Asaph’s psalms today (Psalms 50:1-23 and 73:1–83:18). Look for the balance between anguished honesty and praise to God.
Next:
What “wonderful deeds” can you recall that God has done on your behalf? Write them down and thank Him for what He’s done in the past as you face your present concerns.
Gary Shultz on January 16, 2015 at 7:08 am
Yeah life feels like that; however, sometimes life is lived on a need to know basis. I don’t know how God’s Spirit showed up for Asaph, but I do know one thing, I can know God is here, here so I can draw close to Him. If I come into His presence the “idk” is OK because I know He knows and He has always loved me. How can you sputter about that? I think like Asaph sometimes we just have to cool our jets and just be with God. It is wonderful as the record of raw heart passions are here for us to ponder. Thanks
tgustafs on January 16, 2015 at 8:23 am
Gary, you hit the nail on the head. “Sometimes life is lived on a need to know basis.” I think for me personally, that is one way God teaches me to trust Him. I’m one of those guys who always wants to DO something. And often I simply make things worse. It’s ALWAYS better to take it to God and ask Him what He thinks. 🙂
poohpity on January 16, 2015 at 10:52 pm
How many times I have had to take the time to recall. Remembering the oh so many times that while in them I could not see until it was over the hand of God and just how well He worked everything even the things I may not know the why’s. God seems to be training me just to trust, depend and rely. The truth in His word seems to be learned better by experiencing it’s truth and that brings me great hope and grows my faith. What a blessing to remember how God has provided and turned things around.
It is also amazing how many people call out to God and then forget to say thank you and forget exactly what was done so they really do not have recall because the credit goes some place else.