Everyone has probably heard of the game “Would You Rather?” It is a funny game where two choices are given and you choose which you would rather do.  From things like Would you rather have extra long arms or super short legs? or something along those lines.

Today as I was reading my part of devotions in Psalm chapter 84, and I began thinking about this.  In the message  translation vs. 10 says

“I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
    than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.”

Now I have read that verse many times, but today it really struck me and I just felt that it really had such application in my life.

Many times, as a single-mom, I get angry and frustrated with the struggles I go through while my kids father lives a seeming life of luxury.  I do not like when I look at things this way and I don’t like to get angry about them, but the truth is, at times I do.

As a single-mom, I spend every day doing the work that was meant for 2 people.  Working, taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, mowing lawn in the warm months, snow-blowing and snow shoveling in the cold months.  Taking care of the kids and dealing with all the drama of a house that has 2 teenagers and a tween.  Paying all the household bills with half the income.  Sometimes it is very overwhelming.

On the other hand I see the life my “ex”-husband lives.  Traveling on vacation across the country, spending money on whatever his heart desires at the time, no real responsibilities besides taking care of himself.  The only thing he seems to worry about is how many concerts he is going to be able to go to or where the next place he can go hiking is.

But as I read Psalm 84 today, as I read vs 10 today it really hit me.  Would I really want the roles reversed?  Would I really want to choose a life of luxury in the “palace of sin” rather than hard work living the life God has for me?  Would I rather be running from the truth and running from God than sitting still in His presence? Of course the answer is NO!

When I sit back and allow the truth of God to seep into my soul, I see that I would rather be where I am now, I would rather “scrub floors” than walk away from God and live life without him.  The beginning of Psalm 84:10 says

“Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;”

That statement is so true! It makes everything I do seem so much more vibrant and alive. We were never promised that our lives would be easy following Christ, in fact we are pretty much guaranteed the opposite, but as we are reminded by the apostle Paul,

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”  2 Corinthians 4:17NLT

While what we go through may not feel small…in comparison with the future that God has prepared for us they are.  Just think of the things Paul went through!

As I finished my reading in Psalm 84*, I felt my perspective change.  I was able to see things differently and feel a joy about the things I have to do rather than  anger.  I was able to see the beauty inmy life and the ugliness of walking away from God.  We are reminded in the end of this Psalm,