STRENGTH, HELP AND HOPE (3)

“WAIT on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall STRENGTHEN your heart; WAIT, I say, on the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14

Waiting on the Lord practically illustrates the links between STRENGTH, HELP and HOPE: “WAIT on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall STRENGTHEN your heart; WAIT, I say, on the Lord!” (Psa.27:14). God gives us this command because He knows that it’s not easy for us to wait. Today, having what we want immediately is almost the norm. What we once waited a month to receive is now available on the spot. Although this is convenient, it has also led to a moral decline and the selfish conclusion that we must always get what we want right away. But trusting God always pays off in the end, as like David, we learn to wait on Him for Help: “…You have been my HELP…” (v.9).

Waiting on God is a Key Principle in His Word that’s crucial for every area of our lives – relationships, finances, health, and spiritual life. Yet so often we don’t see the value of waiting, preferring instant gratification. Waiting tests our faith like nothing else. Sometimes we’re not ready to receive what we’ve requested, and some of the things we want are unwise or even physically, emotionally, or spiritually dangerous for us. Some things become richer and more meaningful when we wait for them. Also, we avoid the costs of impatiently running ahead of God.

To become the person God wants us to be and fulfil His purposes, we must learn to wait upon Him. This will keep us from shame: “Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed” (Psa.25:3a). We cannot be ashamed because God works in us as we follow and depend on Him rather than jump ahead. In waiting, we’re renewed in Strength to walk, run, and soar (Isa.40: 28-31). Instead of making decisions based on our limited understanding, God shows us what He would have us do. If we ignore Him, there is a great price to pay.

There are wrong and right attitudes to waiting. We’re not to be impatient, anxious, grumbling, doubting, passive, irritated, or miserable. The right attitudes to Waiting on the Lord for Strength and Help are:

Patiently: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry…” (Psa.40:1-3).

Expectantly but Quietly: “My soul, WAIT SILENTLY for God alone, for my expectation if from Him” (Psa.62:5)

Actively and Prayerfully: Waiting isn’t passive resignation but active, prayerful trust (Phi.4: 4-6).

Courageously: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take COURAGE…” (Psa.27:14a, NIV).

Beloved, we shall “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v.13). God is good and generous enough to give us much more than we deserve. But He is also wise and loving, hence He withholds those things that are not beneficial for us, that we’re not ready to handle, or that could become obstacles in our walk with Him.