Affirmed in the Waiting

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord

Psalm 40:1-3, ESV

The influence of literally everything at our fingertips sometimes does not allow us many opportunities to practice waiting. Waiting is one of those things that takes time to learn how to do well.

As a child, I heard the reminder to “wait patiently” followed by the adage “patience is a virtue.” Typically this was said to me after a long line of questions of why, how or when something was occurring. Though I heeded the reminder/warning of remembering to wait patiently, my understanding didn’t catch up until later in life.

As a wife, I found myself crying out to God with why, how and when as I grieved the miscarriage of my first child. I would never oversimplify the heaviness of the grief or the brazenness of my pleading prayers. Through real tears and raw prayers, the Holy Spirit led me to Psalm 40:1-3. In that season, I read the scripture above in a new way.

In Verse 1, David displays a perseverance in “waiting patiently”. In this perseverance, God showed favor to him and heard his cry. Being affirmed in the waiting is to wait with an expectant hope.

Perseverance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because of God’s love (Romans 5:3-5).

Application

Being affirmed in the waiting means to trust the Lord’s will and His timing. Acknowledging God’s preeminence is a first step. He is truly superior and higher than everyone and everything. Though we may never know the full purpose of the waiting, dear friend, we can be certain that our Father’s plan is perfect and His timing is for our good (Romans 8:28).

1. In this season of waiting, where is God guiding you to seek Him more? In your prayer life? In serving at your church or within your community?
2. Commit to one action you can start this week to work towards your answer to the question above (e.g., seek God more in daily prayer time, volunteering).
3. Pray – Pray specifically, include scriptures in your prayer, acknowledge God is in control and pray with an expectant hope.

Persevere in the waiting.

Trust God. Seek Him. Be Affirmed in Christ