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The Fault, Dear Brutus
You ever find yourself blaming God? In moments when nothing seems to go your way? When your life is mired in darkness? Like the psalmist of old, you look around at the world you live in and see the wicked prosper. And thus become envious of the arrogant. Harboring bitterness in your heart and even resentment towards Him.
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73.3
There are occasions in our lives when we feel as if the walls are closing in on us. A dark and growing evil at our door. And so, we acquiesce to the night. Shirking responsibility for our actions. Perhaps the very things that directly led to where we at present find ourselves. Blind to any path of relief, we search in vain for someone to blame. Laboring aimlessly. An endless search for answers leaving us empty. Heavy laden. As if there is any solace to be found in our quest.
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”
William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene III
We know adversity in our lives should lead us to cherish our God all the more. But I admit there are moments where we simply struggle to see even the faintest glimmer of light. And so we lash out at the One who made us. Who saved us. Who has bestowed grace unmeasurable to the fallen. And in that instant, we fail miserably in recognizing our own foolishness. And so our heart rages.
When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
Proverbs 19.3
The endurance that James speaks of seems a million miles away (James 1.12). We simply cannot fathom the depths of our despair. A severe lack of patience is our downfall.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
The fault is that we allow ourselves to be bought, to be bribed, to be hoodwinked, to be fooled by Satan into believing a lie. Becoming underlings of the Deceiver, we seek to blame others. Feigning ignorance. Becoming disingenuous as well as cynical. The simple truth of the matter is saints and sinners alike will face tribulation. How we muster the strength to overcome is the question we all must face. Drawing strength from the One who understands. Who empathizes. Who cares. Calling to remembrance the words of our Lord:
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16.33b
Leaning on His everlasting arms is a maxim we must grasp onto like a vise. Trusting in ourselves and to some measure even others is folly at best.
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Proverbs 28.26
Deliverance is in our grasp if we will but open our eyes. Through Him we shall and can overcome.
