“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” Psalm 27:14, NKJV
Some days, no matter what I do, even when the sun is shining outside, inside my head a dark cloud follows me. Recently, I had one of “those days.” Usually, it is nothing more than little nagging incidences, like exploding eggs in the microwave, finding a splinter in my foot, or needing to chase after a run-away hat being lifted off my head by the wind. Other days, the dark cloud is a broken water pipe (in the attic!) that damages sheetrock and carpet on the other three floors below. All these occurrences, whether serious in nature or simply annoyances can and often do challenge my sense of wellbeing. Maybe you can relate?
An old remedy we were taught growing up is when unexpected things happen and threaten your peace of mind, STOP and count to ten. Of course, the premise of this exercise is easier to understand than it is to put into action. Who remains silent when you stub your toe? Well, you get the picture.
Most often, whether we stop and count to ten or close our eyes in prayer to God, waiting is an act of the will. Doing nothing in our circumstances is different than waiting. “Waiting” suggests an expectation that something will happen at the end of the waiting period. The psalmist understood that for those who “Wait on the LORD,” something good will follow. You may argue that input + outcome does not always = good results. For example, my broken water pipe caused extreme damage, and your “stubbed toe” may be broken too, so what is the point in waiting on the LORD with good expectations? I am so glad you asked…
Waiting, or abiding in the LORD may not change our circumstances but it does determine how we navigate through them. God “will strengthen your heart” to endure. And Paul reinforces this truth when he writes in the Book of Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (pleading), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Thank You, God, that You meet us right where we are. Give us the courage to trust that You are faithful and that Your word is always good and true. Amen.
