Waiting for God

When I think of courage, I automatically think of taking action, taking the offensive to meet fears or threats head on, but this verse identifies courage as waiting. Be strong and take heart… but stand still? This is counterintuitive for most of us!

Waiting is not easy. Standing still when you want to move forward can feel frustrating. Taking action against perceived evil, correcting wrongs and “saving the day” is more appealing. Just doing something about sin in the world would seem to be what God would want from us, right?

The words, “just breathe” resonate with me! What can it mean to “be strong and take heart” but to take a deep breath and centre one’s self, choosing to hold firm to what you know to be true, and refusing to let lies or other threats hold you captive? But anxiety is a constant companion to many of us, whenever life seems to be going wrong.

So what if it seems that God is never going to show up? Perhaps remembering how he has “saved the day” in the past, recounting the answers to prayer that did come, and choosing to believe that he is coming, is the best way to persevere in waiting. There are so many examples in scripture where God did show up in the lives of those who chose to believe and wait for him,

Psalm 27 reminds us in our times of waiting for God that he is our light (in dark times), our salvation (saving us from our enemies) and our stronghold (place of secure protection). As we wait for God to do his part, the psalmist finds “things to do” while waiting for God.

“My heart will not fear” (verse 3) is easier said than done! Choosing to be “confident” instead, the psalmist directs his focus (his gaze) on the Lord’s face, while contentedly dwelling in God’s presence (verse 5). Refusing to let enemies all around him to distract him, he maintains his firm belief that he “will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (verse 13)!

Father God, I am waiting for you today. Please help me to remain calm and steadfast in the meantime, not losing hope in the trial that I face today! Amen.

Throughout this day: when you feel anxious, read this psalm, affirming the same hope that the writer of this psalm embraced as a daily reality. Don’t give up believing that God will come, as you wait for Him.