“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14

Is waiting your favorite thing to do? Chances are you answered that with a firm “no”. You aren’t alone. I’d even venture to say that no one enjoys waiting, especially not in today’s microwaveable-instant-gratification kind of world.

Let’s put this in a sobering perspective. Waiting, no matter how incremental, is something we cannot avoid. It does not matter if you’re the President of the United States or a street sweeper, you’ve got to wait. Ouch! How I hate to be the bearer of bad news.

Even in these modern times, God calls us to wait. Not only to wait, but to wait well. How do we accomplish this? When we look closely at our verse for today, we can uncover some valuable principles for waiting well. Let’s take it piece-by-piece.

“Wait for the LORD; …” This phrase offers a strong directive, and without saying so explicitly, it implies for us what not to do. If we are waiting for the Lord, it means we’re not meddling or manipulating for a certain desired outcome. We are stepping aside, laying down our frail human tools and resources to allow an all-knowing, all-powerful God to take full reign in our circumstance.

What do you do while you’re waiting on God? Today’s verse offers us insight on a better way when it says “… be strong and take heart …” Sometimes we choose to do other things while we wait like becoming impatient, getting a defiant attitude that tempts us to take matters into our own hands, and entertaining bitterness because we might fear that God won’t come through for us if it doesn’t appear that He has yet.

I believe we can “be strong” by choosing instead to recall the victories God has won in our lives in the past. This will strengthen us for the wait because we remember God’s faithfulness toward us. We can “take courage” (some translations say ‘let your heart take courage’) and be brave because we know that our God is good! We know that He loves us dearly and that He has only the best at heart for us. We trust His timing because we know that He is lovingly arranging our next victory!

Finally, “… and wait for the LORD.” There it is again. David says it twice in one verse, so it must be jammed-packed with power! As difficult as it often is to wait, it should give us a fresh sense of freedom to allow God to do what only He can. It releases us to live and enjoy living because our sovereign Father is doing the heavy lifting!

The next time you’re in a hurry for an answer or a move of God, let that be a trigger that reminds you to hurry up and wait. Wait well for the Lord!

Let’s Pray

Lord, I’m so glad that you know me fully and that I can be honest with you. It’s hard to wait! But, I thank You for Your word that teaches me what to do while I wait for you to answer my prayers and work in my circumstances. I acknowledge that You know what is best for me today and always. Help me to wait well. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.