Do you ever feel as though you are lacking something? I know I have. And, while this has always been a very human thing to experience, it does seem more straightforward to do so in our modern culture. No longer do we only have the Joneses next door to keep up with, but through social media, it seems everyone we know lives next door—some of whom also take up residence in between our ears.

I was reminded of this morning as I read Psalm 73. The Psalm begins with a very honest confession:

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; my steps almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Verses 1-3 NASB)

As I write this blog I am reminded of an earlier blog in this series, Comparison. I almost did not continue writing this as I had felt I had already dealt with this subject until I realized this subtle, but significant difference. In the Comparison blog, the focus was more on the perceived unfairness we feel when comparing ourselves to others and the necessity of simply keeping our life in phase by following where Jesus is leading us individually. The difference, to me, seems to lie in how this affects our hearts.

The Comparison blog dealt more with unfairness – the “just give me a chance and I will show you” attitude versus shame “I don’t have what it takes.” In the middle of the Psalm, Asaph writes:

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning (13-14)

Wow, how raw, how honest, how vulnerable. As I read this, I was reminded of feeling the same: I have tried and failed because I am not good enough.

It seems Asaph’s focus was starting to get out of phase until he “came into the sanctuary of God” (v17). There, he confessed:

“Whom have I in Heaven, but Thee, and besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (v 25-26).

God is our strength and our portion! In Him, we lack nothing.

What a wonderful reminder that not allowing our lack to knock us out of phase requires that we come into His sanctuary where we engage in worship and are reminded that in God we lack nothing.