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Contentment and peace

“I Don’t Get It”: Learning Contentment in Discouraging Times – A Study from Psalm 73

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Do you find yourself feeling discouraged and sad about things that are happening in the world around you?

Those who seem to be living ungodly lives seem to prosper, while the godly seem to be struggling.

Life seems upside down at times. Sometimes life just doesn’t seem to make sense.

In Psalm 73, the psalmist, Asaph, speaks about the temporary prosperity of the wicked as compared to the lasting rewards of the righteous. In the psalm, we find out that we should live holy lives and trust God for our future reward.

In the psalm, Asaph arrives at accurate perspectives on the world by voicing his complaints to God. Asaph shows believers how to express doubts, questions, or anger to God, and the goodness of God makes it safe to do so.

Message Outline

  1. Opening Statement: Character and Conduct of God (Psalm 73:1)
  2. Candid Confession (Psalm 73:2–3a)
  3. Comparison Kills (Psalm 73:3b–12)
  4. Constant Suffering (Psalm 73:13–14)
  5. Change of Heart – Practical Steps to Conquer Your Discontentment and Discouragement
    • He Ceased the emotional spiral – identify the feelings you are having – name them (Psalm 73:14-15)
    • He got into Community – focus on your responsibilities and relationships with God and others (Psalm 73:15-17a)
    • He had to come to a place of Clarity – evaluate the thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes underlying the feelings – Is there confused and chaotic thinking present? (Psalm 73:16-20)
      • Remember – “The Ends”
    • He needed to come to a place of Confession (repentance) – sinful thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions need to be rejected and replaced (Psalm 73:21-22)
    • He placed his Confidence in God and He Clung to God – trust God/faith restored – remind yourself of His goodness, His sovereignty, and His providence (Psalm 73:23-28)
    • He was Counseled by God – Daily “counseling sessions” with the Holy Spirit
    • He Committed his way to Him (Psalm 73:24-28)

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submit to and delight in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition” – Jeremiah Burroughs

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