當詩人在神面前完全交托的時候，他內心立即得到保証：「然而，我常與你同在」（詩七十三23）。有些譯本翻譯為：「然而，我繼續與你一起」。我個人喜歡「然而」這個詞，因為令我想起詩人內心的觸動，對他屬靈生命的復元十分重要。他沒有在自我檢視中停下來、隻把焦點對著自己，而是仰望天父的臉，明白自己得到接納和愛。

如果我們在自我檢視那裡結束，不記得接著的說話「然而，我常與你同在」，我們便會受困於負面的罪疚感和自我譴責。正因為這樣，我較早時說過自我檢視必須在神的同在下進行。很多人雖然花時間檢視自己，但卻斷定自己是沒有價值和沒有用處的，結果以自殺來結束生命。

我今天是否正向這樣的人說話呢？如果是的話，請你緊記，雖然你可能感到自己是沒有用和沒有價值的，「然而」，神仍然與你同在，他仍然准許你來到他的跟前。雖然你忘記了他的應許，誤解了他的道路，「然而」，神並沒有拋棄你。讓這奇妙的真理今天全新地進入你內心吧。無論你的生命出了什麼問題，盡管向他承認，仰望他的臉，並說：「『然而』，我仍繼續與你在一起。」

Once the psalmist reached the place of utter abandonment before God there came into his heart an instant reassurance: "Yet I am always with you" (Psa. 73:23). Some translations put it like this: "Nevertheless I am continually with you". Personally I prefer the word "nevertheless" as it conjures up to my mind a movement in the soul of the psalmist that was vital to his spiritual recovery. He did not stop at the point of self-examination and turn in upon himself - he looked into the face of his heavenly Father and realised that he was accepted and loved.

If we end at the point of self-examination and don't remember the next words, "Nevertheless I am continually with you," then we will stay locked into the negative feelings of guilt and self-condemnation. This is why I said earlier that self-examination must not be undertaken except in the presence of God. Many have spent time examining themselves, and because they have judged themselves to be worthless and useless, they have gone out and committed suicide.

Am I talking to someone like that today? If so, put your foot on this next rung of the ladder and realise that although you may be feeling useless and worthless nevertheless you are still in the presence of God. He still permits you to come into His presence, even though you have forgotten His promises and misunderstood His ways. God does not cast you away. Let the wonder of this break afresh upon you today. Whatever has gone wrong in your life, confess it to Him and look into His face and say: "Nevertheless I am continually with you."