Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD.
There is a lot of waiting in life. In a suburban area such as the one in which most of us live, there is a daily wait—it is called traffic. Heading to work or on some other necessary trip, we frequently find ourselves waiting. Traffic stops and goes, stops and goes, stops and goes, seemingly with no end. We wait in line— sometimes long lines—at the grocery store. We sit in doctor’s offices or dentist’s offices, waiting for our turn to be seen. We go to the tag office (!) or some other government office where we typically can expect to wait. And to wait. And to wait. No one likes to wait.
The quote above is from Psalm 27. In that psalm the writer is in the midst of some very real trials—dangers and threats that are coming from his enemies. As a result, the writer praises God for His presence, as well as beseeches God to continue to abide in his life. Even though all others have apparently abandoned him, the writer is confident that God never will. In the next-to-last verse the psalmist declares, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!” Then he concludes with instructions for the congregation, “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD.”
This is powerful instruction. For as much “waiting” as we do in life, the very best we can do is wait for God. Even though times may be tough, and answers may not be forthcoming. Even though the scales may always seem to be tilted against us, and the world always attacking us for who we are, it is incumbent upon us to wait for the LORD. He will never leave nor forsake us. He alone will guide us to where it is we need to be.
–Ricky