God Is My Strength and Portion Forever: A Reflection on Psalm 73.  By Melinda Skau.

There was a season in my life where I felt consumed by “righteous indignation.” As a department director, I struggled with a recently hired employee who was not only dissatisfied, but vehemently disrespectful. One of my longtime faithful employees requested to transfer his office space to the end of the hall to avoid icy interactions with the bitter newcomer. Despite my best efforts to be kind and fair, promoting a peaceful office morale, the situation only worsened while my superiors remained “hands off.”

During a Bible study class sisters in Christ helped me see what I couldn’t: I was deeply wounded and seething in frustrated anger. This realization led me to the words of Asaph in Psalm 73.

Asaph was a faithful music leader, a Levite prophet and cymbal player who wrote Psalms 50 and 73-83. Asaph admitted that his feet had almost slipped because he was envious of the arrogant and the prosperity of the wicked. He looked at the unfairness of the world and wondered if he had kept his heart pure in vain.

We have all been there—feeling like our faithfulness isn’t being “rewarded” while those who disregard the rules seem to thrive.

The turning point for Asaph, and for me, was entering “the sanctuary of God.” (verse 17)

” … till I entered the sanctuary of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.”

In God’s presence, our perspective shifts from the temporal to the eternal. (See 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 and Romans 5:1-5)

I realized that while I couldn’t control my workplace environment, I could take that employee off “my hook” and transfer the management of the conflict to God. I prayed Psalm 143:8-12 daily for months and God rewarded me with peace   The troublesome employee eventually left for another job.

The beauty of Psalm 73:23-26 is the promise that God is continually (Tamiyd) with us. The Hebrew word Tamiyd suggests a perpetual, constant presence—like the light that never burned out in the sanctuary, like the rhythm of the morning and evening sacrifices of fresh fragrant unleavened bread. Asaph may not have had immediate wealth or ease, but he had a Counselor, a Guide, and a “Portion.” (A legacy, inheritance and association with his Creator).

I also prayed Psalm 73:23-26 repeatedly when a loved one was dying from cancer. I felt frustrated, indignant that the cancer had not been removed when it was localized and manageable. Instead, it had aggressively invaded, requiring months of intensive care and threatening death. Yet, God showed me that the long ICU stay — which was not in my plan — was used powerfully for the benefit of non-believing and spiritually weary families in His best good. Each ICU room had a quiet bed area behind it for family. There was a common kitchen and waiting area where those families could visit during the long days and nights. Several times, my loved one’s wife was able to comfort a grieving family member who did not yet possess an eternal viewpoint. The knowledge of God brings vibrant strength and hope.

Psalm 73:23 -26

“Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Whether we are facing workplace trials or watching a loved one suffer through illness, we can rest in the truth that our flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of our heart forever.

By making the Lord our refuge, we find peace that surpasses our circumstances. My prayer is that we, like Asaph, can move past our angst and into a place where we “tell of all Your works.”

I hope and pray this reflection encourages you today.