Payday Doesn’t Come Every Friday – But it Does Come
Do you ever wonder how people get away with some of the things they get away with? The writer of Psalm 73 despaired of the prosperity of the wicked and how they seemed to get by living in sinfulness without any recompense for their evil ways:
Psalms 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
As a young man, I observed such things and asked my father about it. I was fortunate that my natural father was also my spiritual father. He helped me to see things from a broader perspective than just one snapshot of time where such contradictions glared so harshly in my thinking. “Son, payday doesn’t come every Friday – but it does come.”
What does that statement mean? It means that in due course, God rights the scales of His justice. Yes, we see wickedness and inequity all around us but take heart – God is still on the throne, and prayer changes things. Even when the ungodliness of the wicked impacts you in a very personal way – be encouraged – God is in control. I’ve often put up with mistreatment and outright abuse, and I would ask the Father, “are you going to let them get away with that?” He would just look at me as He often does, and in His eyes, I could see that soft look of love calling Me to trust Him even when I didn’t understand His ways.
As I grew over the years in My walk with God, I found that the Father works from an economy of scale that often spans not just a few days, or a year or even five years. When you’ve lived on the earth for a while, you discover patterns in God’s way of doing things that don’t become apparent until ten years, even twenty years when yes, He rights the scales and makes all things equal. Sometimes that manifests as a blessing to the faithful and sometimes judgment on the ungodly. When that happens, what is your response? As my wife says – “lay your hand on your mouth…” for the God who punishes the wicked could very well have punished you for things that He gave you grace concerning. Just keep on seeking the kingdom and leave the vengeance of situations up to the Lord.
Be encouraged then. Don’t allow God’s seeming delay to deal with unfairness in your life to cause you to despair or become cold in your heart. God is a God who tries our hearts with His eyelids. We think He isn’t paying attention, but He is awake. Like my dad used to say when I thought he was napping, “I’m just checking my eyelids for cracks!” Nothing escapes your Father’s attention, and sooner or later, as we let patience have its perfect work, you will come out of what you are facing in blessing and great deliverance.
