Why bother?

Yesterday I finished reading the 52 meditations by Paul David Tripp in A Shelter in the Time of Storm.  Each short chapter chews on some aspect of Psalm 27, with a heavy emphasis on waiting upon the Lord and delighting in Him.  There were some gems that shone brightly to me in this small work of his and today, before I pass it along to a friend that just might be encouraged by it too, I wanted to share one more of the poetic meditations with my readers. It starts a little on the depressing side, but press on peeps...

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!" - Psalm 27:13

I consider
the brokenness of the world
and I think,
"Why bother?"
I look
at the corruption all around me
and I cry,
"Why bother?"
I face
my war with sin inside and outside,
and I ponder,
"Why bother?"
I look
at the problems of the culture around me
and I lament,
"Why bother?"
I scan
my world, broken by disease and misuse,
and in sadness say,
"Why bother?"
I consider
the statistics of violence and abuse
and I think,
"Why bother?"
I am assaulted
with the reality of endless wars between nations,
and overwhelmed say,
"Why wonder?"
 I am defeated
by temptation's power
and cry,
"Why bother?"
I ponder
how good is called bad and bad good,
and in frustration say,
"Why bother?"
I search
for hope like a parched man for water
but end up thinking,
"Why bother?"
I look
to myself and see weakness and want,
and in grief say,
"Why bother?"
Perhaps
I should live for leisure and comfort
and give into
"Why bother?"
Maybe
I should exist for the here and now,
and forgetting forever say,
"Why bother?"
I am tempted
to live for power and control,
and for greater things say,
"Why bother?"
Perhaps
personal pleasure in the here and now
is what it's all about;
"Why bother?"
But in
exhaustion I look up and not around
and I say,
"Why bother?"

Why bother?
Because You are and You are good.
Why bother?
Becaue You dispense goodness and grace.
Why bother?
Because You bring life out of death.
Why bother?
Because You have a plan and it will be done.
Why bother?
Because I have been welcomed into Your Kingdom of Life.
Why bother?
Because I am always with You.

It is true
that my eyes don't always see
and my heart isn't always confident.
It is true that darkness overwhelms me
and fear leaves me weak.
But You come near.
You remind me once again
that I can be confident
because 
You were unwilling to say,
"Why bother?"