Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14
I wrote a blog post two years ago about waiting on the Lord, and though life brings constant changes, there is always something for which we are waiting. Last Sunday evening our pastor spoke on this verse and topic. Because it was an encouragement to me, I will do my best to summarize the notes I took and hopefully provide some reassurance to all who read this.
Why might we need to wait? Why do we need to be strong? Why would we need to be encouraged?
This verse, Psalm 27:14, was one written by David, and even just reading through his writings a couple times will give you a glimpse into his life. He was one who rode through the mountains and valleys at a rapid pace, and even many of his psalms tells us of the times when he rejoiced and the times when he wept. Many times we will face adversaries who are stronger than we are. David often spoke of the wicked who sought his life, who encamped around his living quarters, and who continually tried to cause him fall to sin. David wasn't perfect. He sinned many times just like we do, yet he learned to lean on his Rock and in His Savior's loving forgiveness. Just like David experienced, we too will be forsaken at times by those who we should have been able to count on. There will be those who will be openly hostile to us, and there will be bitter disappointments. But in the face of difficulties, when we're called to wait on the Lord, we must have a foundation that trusts and lifts up our soul to God, rather that doing what we can do with our own skill and resources.
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:1-5)
This is the prayer of one who prays for the ability to trust in the Lord. David didn't sit around doing nothing, but he prayed that the wicked would not gain victory over him, that his desires would be fulfilled, and that he would be shown God's ways. Our strength should be resting in a God who gave us our salvation and who provided the security for our eternal life.
We also need to wait on the Lord as those needing to be taught by Him. In Psalm 25:5, David realizes the power of God to secure his salvation, and so He asks the Lord to lead him in truth and teach him. We see Christ as our salvation, which should lead to our waiting on Him. He is the One who is the source of ultimate truth. Allow Him, expect Him to teach you while you are waiting. Sometimes He teaches us by making us wait. Abraham and Sarah failed to wait on the Lord's promises, initiating the birth of a child (Ishmael) which led to generational strife that exists until today. If we fail to wait, then we will suffer the consequences and have to deal with the results.
However, our waiting on the Lord must be evident in our life, as well. We cannot say that we are waiting, but live something else. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psalm 25:21) While we are waiting, we need to walk uprightly before the Lord and before others.
Sometimes while we are waiting, the Lord will make us aware of our own sin. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. (Psalm 39:7-8) We shouldn't come to Him without recognizing our own sinfulness: this keeps us humble before Him. But we will find forgiveness at His feet.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thing ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:1-4)
The Lord will expose our own sin as He teaches us, but don't let your sinfulness drag you down. Sometimes it's your adversary who tempts you, creating doubts in your mind. When he says "Look how sinful you are. Do you think God would ever accept or forgive you?" don't deny your sinful nature, but claim the promise that God has given to those who are of a broken and contrite heart. He promises to hear and to forgive. We will fall; that is certain. The righteous man falls seven times. We are so finite, yet the infinite God has promised to remove our sins as far as east is from the west. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. (Proverbs 24:17) We have to get up and keep going. Dwelling on our sin will not produce fruitfulness, only discouragement and despair. The Lord will teach us, make us aware of our sin, but He also requires us to wait for Him, and He promises to renew our strength when we struggle.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faintest not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
God will call you to action, even during the waiting process. He will call you to hope. Jeremiah, known as the "Weeping Prophet" saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the House of God--Solomon's Temple--with his own eyes. He was thrown into a well for preaching the gospel. The king read his writings and burned some of it. And when he comes to the end, He realizes that God does do what He says He will do--what Jeremiah had been warning the people about all along. The city and Temple are destroyed and God's people are taken captive with only a few remaining. But yet he says...
This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto hem that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:21-26)
The Lord has promised to be with us if we follow His Word. The way to have courage and strength--the way to have hope--is to say that what you are called to do is what God has said. And what God calls you to do--maybe even just waiting--He will give you the grace and the strength to accomplish.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
He has commanded us. Don't do nothing while you wait, but obey His direction. Hope in Him. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.(Psalm 27:14)
**********
You can listen to the original sermon HERE.
PS: Puppy update coming soon! :)
However, our waiting on the Lord must be evident in our life, as well. We cannot say that we are waiting, but live something else. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psalm 25:21) While we are waiting, we need to walk uprightly before the Lord and before others.
Sometimes while we are waiting, the Lord will make us aware of our own sin. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. (Psalm 39:7-8) We shouldn't come to Him without recognizing our own sinfulness: this keeps us humble before Him. But we will find forgiveness at His feet.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thing ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:1-4)
The Lord will expose our own sin as He teaches us, but don't let your sinfulness drag you down. Sometimes it's your adversary who tempts you, creating doubts in your mind. When he says "Look how sinful you are. Do you think God would ever accept or forgive you?" don't deny your sinful nature, but claim the promise that God has given to those who are of a broken and contrite heart. He promises to hear and to forgive. We will fall; that is certain. The righteous man falls seven times. We are so finite, yet the infinite God has promised to remove our sins as far as east is from the west. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. (Proverbs 24:17) We have to get up and keep going. Dwelling on our sin will not produce fruitfulness, only discouragement and despair. The Lord will teach us, make us aware of our sin, but He also requires us to wait for Him, and He promises to renew our strength when we struggle.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faintest not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
God will call you to action, even during the waiting process. He will call you to hope. Jeremiah, known as the "Weeping Prophet" saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the House of God--Solomon's Temple--with his own eyes. He was thrown into a well for preaching the gospel. The king read his writings and burned some of it. And when he comes to the end, He realizes that God does do what He says He will do--what Jeremiah had been warning the people about all along. The city and Temple are destroyed and God's people are taken captive with only a few remaining. But yet he says...
This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto hem that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:21-26)
The Lord has promised to be with us if we follow His Word. The way to have courage and strength--the way to have hope--is to say that what you are called to do is what God has said. And what God calls you to do--maybe even just waiting--He will give you the grace and the strength to accomplish.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
He has commanded us. Don't do nothing while you wait, but obey His direction. Hope in Him. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.(Psalm 27:14)
**********
You can listen to the original sermon HERE.
PS: Puppy update coming soon! :)
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