Our confused hearts are safe in our strong God

A few years ago some friends and I went to see a new Star Wars movie. As we ate tacos before the movie, some of the guys in our group talked with a nervous, Christmas-morning type of excitement about this newest addition to the Star Wars canon of movies.

I did not have that same child-like excitement. I’ve never been able to fully immerse myself in Star Wars. I have tried, but there’s just something about the movies—they just don’t do it for me. Nonetheless, I was enjoying my tacos and the time with these friends.

As we streamed out of the theater a few hours later, I couldn’t help but notice how many of those who saw the movie were intrigued by the various characters, the plot twists, and the intrigue of this latest contribution to the Star Wars universe.

But I was lost.

I had watched the same movie as those who were now consumed in analysis and discussion of the movie. But I felt like I just didn’t understand the whole Star Wars story like they did. They connected characters and plot twists across many movies, and I just casually nodded my head in agreement (though I had no real idea what they were talking about).

This lack of awareness is fine when it comes to Star Wars, but it’s dangerous for us as Christians.

Awareness and Asaph

As Christians, we desperately need a healthy, full sense of awareness of how our whole story fits together. Otherwise, we can find ourselves in a confused state, not understanding cultural opposition to the Christian faith that is common in our day.

Psalm 73 was written by a man named Asaph who was confused as he tried to understand his faith in God in light of being surrounded by people who did not worship God. They actually mocked Asaph for his trust in God.

Psalm 73:1-3 features a confession from Asaph that God is good to His people, but it also features another confession from Asaph: He was envious of those who mocked God and seemed to enjoy more prosperity and comforts in life than he knew.

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Have you ever thought to yourself that it would be easier to just ride the wave of our culture’s views on sexuality and humanity than to hold to a Christian worldview? 

Have you ever thought to yourself that it would be easier to forsake the demands that following Jesus places upon your calendar, bank account, and commitments than to walk in obedience to Christ? 

If so, you are not alone. Asaph, knew that feeling. Many Christians around you probably also know that feeling.

Where do confused Christians turn in this world?

So where do you turn and what do you do when you are confused as a Christian in a world that mocks Christianity? Listen to the conclusion that Asaph reached after an encounter with God in His tabernacle:

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

God gave Asaph a comforting reminder that He has taken hold of Asaph, He guides Asaph, and He promises to deliver Asaph to glory. He is not a philosophical truth to be understood (though Christianity certainly passes philosophical muster!), He is our God that we know and trust. Christianity is not just about believing the truth claims of our faith, it is knowing, trusting, resting in our God who promises to be near to us.

Asaph concludes Psalm 73 by writing of this new understanding of himself, his God, and those he envied:

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

Dear Christian, if you are confused in our world that seems opposed to your faith - rest assured in knowing that it is good to be near to God, to make Him your refuge. 

And, as the psalm concludes, “that I may tell of all your works.” The striking thing about Psalm 73 is that it shows us that even though we may feel confused living in a world that has little use for our faith, it is our world that is actually confused. 

If you are trusting in our faithful God as your rock, refuge, and future hope, you have a better grasp on reality than you think. It is actually those around us who have no use for God who are living in a confused, deceived state. Let us listen to Asaph and make the Lord God our refuge, that we may tell of all His works.

Stephen McDonald is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Scituate, MA.