“All Torn Up Inside” Trauma, Injustice and God

“All Torn Up Inside”  Trauma, Injustice and God
Psalm 73:21–26 (NLT)
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

There is no shortage of feeling bitter and “all torn up inside” following traumatic experiences. This Psalm of Asaph acknowledges how things can seem unfair—the bad guys seem to be doing ok, and I am all torn up inside.

It was when he went into God’s “sanctuary” (verse 17) that he understood the justice of God. This lead to bitterness in his own heart.

We do well to remember that we still belong to God even when we are wrapped up in our ignorance, foolishness or bitterness; even when we are all torn up inside. He is there. He is with us, holding our right hand, ready to guide us to a glorious destiny.  He loves us even when we may act in a way that in hindsight seems foolish. He is the strength of our heart.

Do we, as Asaph proclaimed, desire God more then anything on earth? Is there anything keeping us from drawing close to God, from entering into his sanctuary, from learning the truths that God reveled to Asaph?

Peace and Blessings,

David+