Let's face it; we all get the blues sometimes. Sometime our blues come from the regular challenges of life.  After all, "man born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble" (Job 14:1) so we know that we all will experience our fair share of trouble. Sometimes ours come from other sources.

One of the main sources of the blues for many Christians is the outward prosperity of ungodly people. It can be very discouraging to some for seemingly ungodly, immoral people to prosper while seemingly good, God-fearing people struggle. This is especially true when we ourselves are those good, struggling God-fearing people! Simply put; our struggles are made worse when we look around us and see so many people prospering who clearly disregard the Lord and His word. I mean keeping up with the Jones' is hard enough, but when the Jones' are evil and still getting blessed? That can just make ya' mad!

The psalmist Asaph wrote about his battle with blues in the 73rd Psalm. He wrote about how he could not keep his balance during his "walk" with God when he saw "the prosperity of the wicked" (73:3b). What stands out to me is how much detail he is able to give regarding the walk (manner of life) of the wicked. Casual observation of verses 4-12 will prove the writer's observations (almost obsessive preoccupation) with the prosperity and lack of outward pain in the life of the ungodly. This type of preoccupation with the life of others questions the authority of God (Jonah 4; John 21:19-23; Romans 14:4) and is quite juvenile. Remember getting in trouble as a child and pointing to the misdeeds of a sibling rather than taking responsibility? Plus it is not healthy for our own walk with God.

Asaph convinced himself, in a sense, that God had let the guilty (foreigners to God) prosper while choosing to punish him, the innocent follower. Asaph began to question his own faith. He questioned whether he had "cleansed his heart in vain" (verse 13-14) since it seemed like it did not benefit him. We all know that we are not supposed to feel this way, but I don't believe that Asaph was alone. I believe that we all have our bouts with this type of depression from time to time. The cure to this type of blues is simple but not always easy to do.

The key is to focus on God rather than the ungodly. Asaph finally noted in verses 16-17, that it was all "too painful" until he went into the sanctuary of God! After he did that, he understood. He understood about the eventual end that the wicked would meet. He understood the eventual end that he and all faithful children of God would see. He was refreshed because of his understanding and realized how pitiful he sounded in his misery but understood that he must now draw near to God.

Are you ready to understand? Try looking at God and his word. Surround yourself with Godly
people. Don't forsake attending worship in the middle of your blues. Take sanctuary from this world and from your own thoughts by immersing yourself in the knowledge and presence of Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).

Let's change our focus today!

Bro Eli