Evil will always do what evil does—deceive, destroy, devour. But thanks be to God that He is good, and therefore, always does what is good—deliver us from darkness, and into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ where truth, justice, and mercy reign.

Though a tumult of wickedness may surround us. Though we have distress within and war without; those of us who repent of our sins and trust wholly in the name of Jesus Christ, the only and holy Son of God, alone, are free to find refuge and peace in Him. For in this world, Christ promised that we will have trouble, yet, we are of good courage because we do not fear all that is frightening, but rather, we fear the Almighty alone, and therefore, we are safe and have the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Jn 16:33, 1 Pet 3:6, Php 4:4-7).

We are wild olive shoots, whom God has had mercy on, so that we may be nourished and strengthened from the Root of Jesse who was cut open, that we might be grafted in Him, and receive grace upon grace (Rom 11:17-18, 15:12-13; Jn 1:14-16). Therefore, let us trust in the steadfast love of LORD our God forever and ever, no matter the trials, no matter the heartaches; for He has already given us all that is good, and He will continue to give us reason to rejoice in Him forever and ever.

This exhorting article from R.C. Sproul took me back to a time nearly 30 years ago, when I was quite discontented with being single. I'd wanted to be married as long as I could remember. I was also discontented with my job, believing it wasn't using all my God-given computer skills and causing them to wane (because I didn't have to use a computer, I had secretaries for that). But that wasn't all; I was quite discontented with a number of things. It seemed everyone else around me was generally, happier than me because they had all they desired...and I felt owed, though I'd never admit that. I'd properly admit as a Christian, I know I'm only owed Hell. Yet, my discontented state proved my words of religiosity, to be false.

Then I came to the throne of grace, as did Asaph when he was miserably discontented as I,

"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God...

"When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

[F]or me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." ~Psalm 73:16-17; 21-26; 28, ESV

After I read this entire Psalm, I repented, thanked my Father for His forgiveness, for my salvation, for His ever-present help, and for all I have in Christ; riches far greater than anything this world and life could offer. I resolved that day, to be content with, and to bring glory to my God in whatever circumstance He wisely and lovingly chooses for me; and He quieted my soul (Zeph 3:17).

Some of you reading this today are discontent because you're single. Some of you are discontent because you're married. Some of you are discontent because you're childless. Some of you are discontent because you have children. Some of you are discontent because you despise your job, and some of you are discontent because you wish you had a job.

This world and our flesh will happily and generously provide us with a myriad of reasons why we ought to be discontent. But God our Father gives us only one reason why we ought to be the most contented people—Jesus Christ His Son.

Whether we are single, married, have children or not, love our jobs or are waiting in limbo for one, we ought to be the most contented people in all the earth because we have been saved from the wrath to come. And in being saved, we also receive a holy adoption and are called the children of the Most High God. God is our Father. Christ is our Advocate, Savior, Redeemer, Propitiation; and the Holy Spirit is our Seal and Guarantor.

Knowing and embracing this truth doesn't mean we don't hurt. It doesn't mean we don't weep. It doesn't mean we slap on a happy face and pretend we have it all together when really, we're falling apart. What it means is that while we still have searing heartaches just as others do, unlike the rest of humanity, we have a Strong Tower to run into, and know we are safe; even in the midst of the torrential storms this life consistently brings.

When we trust our Savior rather than our circumstances, we are able to hold fast to His promises, and trust His wisdom, love, and sovereignty. And when we do this, we are able to be content in any and every circumstance, not because we find them pleasant, but because we find Christ always present.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

~2 Corinthians 4:16-18, ESV

Today's Psalm is a beautiful expression and demonstration of what true repentance looks like—an honest look at self, in the sight of the only living, holy, and awesome God.

In Psalm 51, King David pours out his heart to God Almighty; taking full responsibility for his sins against the Lord, Bathsheba, and her now deceased husband, Uriah. He makes no excuses. And he asks for nothing but God's forgiveness, knowing he is powerless to redeem himself.

King David was a mighty warrior. He was a man of valor. He was also very arrogant, an adulterer, plotter of evil, a murderer, a lackadaisical father. Essentially, he was a wretched sinner like the rest of us. But then why did God give him one of the greatest compliments by calling him a man after God's own heart? The heart of the Almighty does not murder, is not arrogant, lackadaisical in regards to His children, etc.? Why would God refer to King David as someone who chases hard after the LORD? My guess is because King David had a broken and contrite heart. Every time David was confronted with his sin, rather than make excuses or try to help others understand why he sinned, how he really didn't mean to do that, but what he really meant to say or do was...and so on; David humbly received rebuke. And David repented.

Whether in hardships or pleasantries, David delighted in praising the name of the LORD. May David's prayer in this Psalm, also be ours: That God would open our mouths to praise Him and that He would help us to walk in, and bear the fruit of repentance. For it is only a heart that is broken and contrite before the Lord, that He will never despise, but rather, He will always receive (Rom 10:13).

Peace is not the absence of conflict with people. Peace is the absence of conflict with God.

Leviticus 7:11-15 says, "And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning." (ESV)

Those of us who have been granted the gift of repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ, had the only acceptable peace offering made on our behalf, when the Son of God suffered and died for our sins. Because Jesus alone is God, He alone can completely satisfy the wrath of God that is due every sinner...which is every single human being that has lived, is living, and will live. Through Christ, we who repent of our sins and trust wholly in Jesus' name, now have what we could never attain for ourselves—peace with God.

What a glorious joy it is to know that while we were enemies of God, living for ourselves, hating Him, and hating others; Christ died for us. Therefore, let all who call on the name of the LORD, rejoice in His holy name! Let us lift up our hearts and our voices to proclaim the excellencies of Christ Jesus our Lord! And let us demonstrate our utter gratitude and love to God the Father for giving us His Son, by offering Him a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for continuously humbling us, so that we will never forget our depravity without Christ.