● Asaph complained: “Surely it is in vain that I have cleansed my heart and that I wash my hands in innocence itself. And I came to be plagued all day long, and my correction is every morning.”​—Psalm 73:13, 14.

Draw Close to Jehovah

In Psalm 73, Asaph wrote candidly about his perplexity. When comparing his own lot with the prosperous life of the wicked, he became envious. He observed that the ungodly were haughty and violent, and they seemed to get away with this. Asaph then expressed doubts about the value of his pursuing an upright course in life.​—Psalm 73:3-9, 13, 14.

Have you, like Asaph, observed the apparent success of the wicked who flaunt their wrongdoing? How did Asaph overcome his negative feelings? He continues: “I kept considering so as to know this; it was a trouble in my eyes, until I proceeded to come into the grand sanctuary of God. I wanted to discern their future.” (Psalm 73:16, 17) Asaph took positive steps by turning to Jehovah in prayer. To use language later employed by the apostle Paul, Asaph suppressed the “physical man” by awakening the “spiritual man” within himself. With renewed spiritual vision, he understood that Jehovah hated badness and that in due time the wicked would be punished.​—1 Corinthians 2:14, 15.

How vital it is that you allow the Bible to help you focus on the reality of life! Jehovah reminds us that he is not blind to what wicked people do. The Bible teaches: “Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap . . . So let us not give up in doing what is fine.” (Galatians 6:7-9) Jehovah will put the wicked “on slippery ground”; he will make them “fall to ruins.” (Psalm 73:18) Divine justice will always prevail in the end.

An unceasing program of spiritual feeding at Jehovah’s table and wholesome association with God’s people will help you to strengthen your faith and overcome discouragement or other negative feelings. (Hebrews 10:25) Like Asaph, by staying close to God, you can experience his loving support. Asaph continues: “I am constantly with you; you have taken hold of my right hand. With your counsel you will lead me, and afterward you will take me even to glory.” (Psalm 73:23, 24) One Christian who was abused as a child learned the wisdom of these words. “Keeping in close association with the congregation,” she says, “showed me a different side to life. I saw very clearly that the Christian elders were loving, that they were not policemen but shepherds.” Yes, compassionate Christian elders play a vital role in dispelling damaging emotions.​—Isaiah 32:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8.