My own moral failings, intrusive thoughts, and moments of doubt have sometimes left me feeling worthless and weak. In those moments, I can’t help but feel that God is ashamed of me or distant. And in my weakness, I ask myself, “How can I hold on to Him more earnestly?”
The Bible teaches clearly that we are to seek God through the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3; Matt. 6:33), live in obedience (John 14:15), and run to Jesus as we fix our focus on Him (Heb. 12:1–2). The Spirit also helps and strengthens us during this process (Rom. 8:26). In this sense, our faith must be living and active (Heb. 4:12), yet faith is not about how well we are following or pursuing God. At its core, faith isn’t even about “holding on” to God.
Learning from Asaph in Psalm 73
One of my most treasured passages is Psalm 73. In the first part of the psalm, Asaph looks at the prosperity of the wicked and became jealous and angry. He isn’t just angry at the wicked—he’s angry at God Himself: “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you” (vv. 21–22).
For a moment, Asaph thought his pursuit of holiness was in vain (v. 13). He was embittered and brutish toward God. In his moral failing and distorted view of God, he certainly felt distant from Him. Yet in his repentance, he gives one of the richest confessions of God’s faithfulness to His people: “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” (vv. 23–24).
Notice verse 23: in the midst of failure, Asaph reminds himself of his hope—not in his works, feelings, or ability to hold on, but in the fact that God is holding on to him. Asaph’s faith was trusting that God held his hand, guided him with His counsel, and that He will one day bring him into His glory.
Faith Is Being Held, Not Just Holding
In John 10:28–29, Jesus tells us that no one can snatch us out of His hand. God Himself will keep us from stumbling (Jude 24). What an incredible reminder: Faith is not about how strong we can hold on to God—it’s believing that God is holding on to us, even when we are weakest.
We must guard against putting our faith in our own works or feelings. Our works will fail us and our feelings will betray us. But when we place our faith in God and His Word, trusting that He saves those who call on Him (Rom. 10:13) and works in us as we pursue Him (Phil. 2:12–13), we can echo Asaph’s song of hope: “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” (Ps. 73:25–26).
Faith is not clinging harder; faith is trusting the hand that will never let go.
