Psalm 73, written by Asaph, is the testimony of a priest who had lost hope. He starts by saying God is good, then shares how he almost stumbled. Looking at his society, he saw that unrighteous and ungodly people were doing well, getting rich, living comfortable lives, and using their power to get more and oppress, steal, and extort from the defenseless. A few of the things he says are: “… their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; … Therefore pride is their necklace; … They set their mouths against the heavens … Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.” He had lost hope and said to himself: “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.” But then he regained hope, as he shared a couple of verses later: “… until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” This priest regained perspective and remembered God is good and all the wealth and comfort of the unrighteous, like an oiled slope, speeds them on to their destiny.

I am reminded of a time in my life when I had little hope. I left college to go home for a semester and set my heart and head right. It was a time when I thought no one cared, that I didn’t matter, and that no one would miss me if I died, so maybe I should die. But after going home and connecting with a couple of good people in the church, I slowly regained hope as I remembered God’s perspective. I was reminded that God is in my life, that He has always been in my life, and that He is the good God who does care and that I matter to Him and that I matter to others. God used that time to get me reinvolved
in short-term missions and to bring His blessing to others. He got my eyes off from focusing on myself instead of on Him, and I have been running after Him ever since. The thing that made the difference to me is the same thing that made the difference for Asaph: I remembered that not only is God a great
God, not only is God in charge, but I remembered that God is good. To put it another way, since I am His child, saved by Jesus, He is not only my Lord, He is also my faithful friend who never, ever, disappoints.

Yes, as I look back over my life, I cannot remember any time when Jesus was not there. Jesus has always been with me, never left me, never disappointed me. He is not only able, He is good. That is what gives hope in the darkest times. So, remember and hang on to this: God is good. Then, even in times when you may lose hope, when you remember this, you may regain your hope.