A Small Devotional - Psalm 73:23

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you…”

-Psalm 73:23

If there is, through the flow of scripture and history alike, one trait that our heavenly Father continuously displays, it can be summed up in the simple word ‘nevertheless’. Never does he love his people any less. Never does sin become less detestable to him. Never does his glory become any less. Never does his presence depart from those who are in him. This is why the psalmist can write “I am continually with you”. Such a statement is only made true by the faithful, steadfast, nevertheless God, who despite our brutish and ignorant ways, chooses to hold us close. We like children push desperately to separate ourselves from his arms; He nevertheless holds us close as a father does a wailing child and whispers to us joy and peace and life everlasting.

Oh the glories revealed, that God is a nevertheless God! How foreign yet delightful this truth is! For we are an alwaystheless people living in an alwaystheless world. We are fickle creatures, whose hearts are always shifting and swaying with the currents around us. But God’s grace does not change despite our sins. God’s love does not change despite our hate. God’s word does not change despite our arguments. God’s presence does not leave despite our rebellion. Dear brothers and sisters, does this truth not drive you to worship? Does not your heart swell with hope at the psalmist’s words? Seek out and draw near to this nevertheless God. Give up your reliance on your own unstable strength and lean into the God from whom you may find a grace, love, faithfulness, joy, peace, and presence that cannot depart. Let us look to Christ with the full assurance of faith as we echo with the saints of history the psalmists words.

“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.”

-Psalm 73:23-26