“I Was A Brute Beast Before You. . . .”

Praises: 

1. Our times are in Your most capable hands.
2. Time with You in the now.
3. Heaven because of Jesus; our eternal Hope.

Your Word:

“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

In this season of uncertainty, I was profoundly touched by this passage in Psalm 73 as it expresses the rawness of human emotions—“When my heart was grieved . . . I was a brute beast before You . . .”  After the deaths of 13 of our military along with the extinction of more than 160 innocent civilian lives our military were there to help, I found myself in the brute beast category last week with an anger that seethed.  Certainly, the thought of the hopes and dreams of so many—those there to help as well as those trying to escape because they were intent on life–being snuffed out so senselessly by such evil is a cause for grieving. It is in times such as these that we long for heaven.

Yet, as we continue reading Psalm 73—convicted that God would not have His own remain brute beasts–we are assured that He remains faithful to hold and to guide us, ultimately to bring us to Himself:

“Yet, I am always with You; 
You hold my right hand; You guide me with Your counsel, 
and afterward You will take me into Glory.”
(Verse 23)

What is wonderful about this is that the Psalmist does not stop there. As we continue reading, the news gets even better as it reinforces God’s steadfast commitment to those who trust in Him, even in  our frailty:  

“Whom have I in heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.“ 
(Verses 24-26) 

When I found myself in the brute beast category last week it frightened me. While I felt absolutely justified to be so angry—what had happened was horrific–even so, I felt convicted as I realized that if not checked, such hatred could consume me and I could become just like those who perpetrate such crimes.  It was then that I heard that still, small voice whisper, “Kathie, will you trust Me in this?” and remembered Jesus’s call, 

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, 
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 
for I am gentle and humble in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls.” 
Matthew 11:28, 29

As I confessed my anger and my desire to wallow in it a good while, I realized just how overwhelmingly heavy that burden had become. As to the question of trust, I was greatly relieved as my heart melted (and with it, my commitment to hate) and God gave me the strength to put the matter into His hands. In that yielding moment, when the beastly burden of hatred was lifted from me, I discovered a newfound freedom: 

1. To grieve so many lives lost, 
2. To pray for their families and 
3. To surrender the fate of the perpetrators to the One who judges justly.

Where do you find yourself in this crazy world we’re living in? What challenges are you facing that either threaten or already overwhelm you to the point of giving over to despair? Then listen carefully, because the question asked of me when hatred threatened to overtake me, is also being asked of you: “Will you trust Me in this?” I pray that Christ’s love, as demonstrated on the Cross, will provide strength and comfort as you surrender your heart to Him.

All to His Glory . . .❤️