When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Psalm 73:16-17
So often we don’t understand God’s ways and it troubles us deeply. We see good people suffering and wicked people getting away with evil. We know God is powerful and loving, we wonder why God doesn’t intervene quickly and decisively.
Like this psalmist, if we want to understand God’s ways, we have to spend time in his presence. It’s not until we commune with God that life will make sense. We begin to see how almighty God is and how small our concerns are in relation to eternity, how short our time on earth is compared to infinity and how great God’s love is for everyone. He even gives evil people time to repent so they will be with him eternally.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
We underestimate God’s patience and his forbearance when people go astray. Jesus sought to teach us the depth of the Father’s love when he told us the parable of the Prodigal Son, the woman who lost a precious coin, the farmer who had lost a wayward sheep. Whether it’s by choice or by circumstances that these people became separated, it doesn’t alter the Father’s desire for reconciliation, restoration and relationship.
Once God expanded the psalmist’s vision and he saw the big picture of God’s plans, he was satisfied. May we also seek God’s perspective so we’re satisfied to wait for him, to bring about his purposes in his time.
