Archived Verse Of the Week

It's been stated, "Never pray for patience; you will not like how God teaches you." Whether we are waiting for a traffic light to change or test results to come in, most people could be better at waiting. Waiting is typically a frustrating annoyance in our fast-paced environment.

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Maybe you, like me, can relate to the Psalmist's statement that his whole being waits. In the midst of total darkness, his heart and soul seek a sign from God, a glimmer of light. David flips back and forth between praying to God and telling himself how good and dependable God is.

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When there is a risk of bad news, fear enters our waiting, making the situation intolerable. We must, like the Psalmist, keep our gaze fixed on God, the source of all hope in this life and eternally. There is no outcome that God will not assist us in dealing with.

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Hope in the Lord is not abstract but rather concrete and realistic. God has counted the hairs on your head (Luke 12:6-7), which means He is aware of and concerned about every detail of your existence. So, what was David's problem? Because he had sinned and felt guilty in this circumstance (vv. 3–4). This psalm is considered one of the seven "penitential psalms." No one can be righteous in the eyes of the Lord. God's mercy and forgiveness are the only reasons a relationship with Him is conceivable. Only due to this are we able to serve and worship Him.

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The Psalmist knows that God's compassion and forgiveness will change his perspective and the situation's spiritual truth. He exhorts God's people to do the same because he longs for this with the same eagerness that a watchman awaits the break of day. Psalm 130 describes how we stand before God and the flawless redemption that He alone gives. David is crying out to God from the depths. Don't you think we're more prone to cry out to God when we're down than when everything is going well? It is precisely what we should do "cry out to God" when faced with challenges that strike us deeper and lower.

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Nobody else has the ability or love to rescue us from our situations; no other assistance is accessible. Is it because we are more deserving than others that God does this? No, according to the Psalmist, who could survive if the Lord were to punish our iniquities? We don't understand that kind of love, yet it exists even though nothing about us merits it. Knowing this, David looks forward to the Lord more than the watchman looks forward to the morning.

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Have hope in the Lord! I'll never understand, but I'm so grateful to God for the total redemption he offers and the daily guidance He gives to deal with life's challenges.

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Through worship, the redeemed respond to the beautiful relationship we have with God. There is no other way to respond to a God who is both wrathful and kind. If we've tasted and seen how glorious he is, we'll wake up wanting more of him, asking for more, and making room in our days and plans.

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Have you prayed for something for years and are still praying? Perhaps you've prayed for so long that you're about to give up hope that God would ever respond. Never give up! One prayer can change the course of history, and today might be that one prayer. I'm curious how many prayers go unanswered because someone gave up after just one prayer before God moved. Even if you have to wait a little longer, never underestimate what God is up to behind the scenes. He is constantly working and will always work for your benefit.

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So what do you do in the seasons of waiting? Continue to worship and thank God for everything He is accomplishing in your life. Surrender what you are praying for to Him and tell Him, "Not my will, but yours be done." Hold on to His Word. Look for promises in the Bible regarding God being dependable, answering prayers, arranging things for our benefit, being merciful, His lovingkindness, and His love for us. We may not understand why God does not respond to our schedule, but the answer will come when the timing is right. He has never answered even one prayer one moment late. 

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God understands what is in your heart. He is aware of your anguish. He is aware of your difficulties. Sometimes the exact things we pray for and believe we desperately need are the precise things that make us unhappy. Sometimes the things we ask God to take away from our lives are the things He uses to shape us into more like Christ.

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Believe in His timing.