As a little girl, I got so excited when I’d see special signs appear on the side of the road. I thought colorful signs meant my family had arrived at the popular amusement park we were driving to. I’d joyfully start gathering my things, only to be disappointed to see more signs and have to wait even longer before we reached the park. Eventually I realized those signs announced that visitors were getting closer but were still miles away.
Like an excited child wondering “are we there yet?” we can also be impatient and anxious to arrive at our next destination.
Waiting for God to move in our lives, or to rescue us from our trials, can be challenging. David was facing much adversity, which he mentions throughout Psalm 27. Yet he still placed his hope and trust in God and waited for Him to respond. David didn’t know how long it would take for God to act, but he knew God would help him. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v. 13).
It may take longer than we’d like to experience our breakthrough, but let’s take courage in these words: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14). As we turn to the Psalms and the rest of Scripture for encouragement, we can take comfort in knowing God is working even while we wait.
Why is it hard sometimes to wait for God’s answer? How can you remain hopeful as you wait?
Dear God, thank You that You’re working even while I wait.
When pursued by powerful enemies, David focused on God instead of the danger he was in. With God as his “light” and “salvation” and the “stronghold of [his] life,” he had nothing to fear (Psalm 27:1-3). God would keep him safe—“out of reach on a high rock” (v. 5 nlt). Even in the unlikely event of being abandoned by his parents, who were supposed to protect him, David confidently trusted that “the Lord will take care of me” (v. 10 nkjv). God would deal with the difficulties and dangers just as a human father would for his child. The psalmist invites us to “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14). To wait for God is to put our trust in Him. We affirm with David, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield” (33:20).
