Getting Out of the Doldrums
by Gilly Mathiesen
There can be days when life just seems unfair, and we can feel sorry for ourselves. I used to have days like that, where I would wallow in self-pity. I called it having ‘a case of the POMs’ - the ‘Poor Old Me’s It felt even worse when no-one else seemed to notice, and life seemed such a doddle for them! The change for me came by looking at my circumstances through the lens of God’s word and gaining an understanding of His love and plans for me. This truth really helps change our perspective when difficult days come our way.
The writer of Psalm 73 seemed to be having a case of the ‘POMs’! He was comparing his life to others and was close to falling into a spiritual and emotional hole as a result. Verses 2-5a tells us ‘But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens.’ Verse 13-14 says, ‘Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments’ (NIV).
Boy, this writer is having a real bad case of the POMs! His mind boggles as he tries to understand it and he becomes perturbed. Verse 16 tells us, ‘When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.’ But what brought change to his attitude? Verse 17 answers the question, ‘It troubled me deeply, till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny’.
What was it about entering the sanctuary of God which brought about change? Psalm 63:2-8 offers an explanation. ‘I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely’ (New Living Translation).
What a contrast! When we spend time with our heavenly Daddy and get His perspective on things, we go from looking at the greatness of our circumstances to looking at the greatness of our God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me see my circumstances through Your eyes. Thank You for Your great love for me, which never lets me go. Thank You for Your plans for my life. Help me to give You my struggles and keep focussed on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Gilly Mathiesen Gilly has a heart to see broken lives healed. She got involved in Christian ministry at a young age, working as a missionary for some years, as well as teaching at a Christian school. She has been involved with Ellel Ministries for the past 10 years and trained and worked on the team in Northern Ireland before moving to Denmark in 2016. She and her husband Steen have been pioneering an Ellel work there since early 2018. They long to see people healed and set free to be all that God has designed them to be.
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