Psalm 73:23-26 (NKJV)
 
Nevertheless, I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward, receive me to glory.
 
 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
 
 
Reflection
 
One of the many blessings that come with salvation is the capacity to view our circumstances through the lens of eternity. The hope we have in Jesus extends to the issues we face on this side of heaven. The psalmist, Asaph, gives us great insight into God’s promises that He is with us through any failure we experience. Our troubles may be desperate, but they are temporary, and knowing that we will be in His presence forever gives us the strength we need to persevere. God Himself confirms Asaph’s declaration of divine comfort when we are afraid:

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13).

This world cannot offer such peace and perspective amid the storms of life. The mantra of our culture that “you are enough” suggests that we alone possess the power to overcome any failure if we do not give up—good advice if you are trying to invent the light bulb, but these are frustrating words for the tormented mind. For years, I suffered from severe depression as a result of my failures. Everywhere I turned for relief took me further down a path of hopelessness that would have ended in death had I not looked to God for help. I have tested the words in this passage and found them to be true. Now I meditate on them with the assurance that I am not defined by my failures, I am defined by the One who loves me all the way through them.
 

Action Step
 
Think about the areas of your life where you feel you are just a breath away from failure. Commit these feelings to God and ask Him for His strength and wisdom to endure to the end.
 

Prayer
 
Jesus, thank You for saving me out of all my fears and failures. Thank You for giving me the wisdom to seek godly help and the strength to persevere victoriously. Amen!